Bells

The bell sounds at the beginning and end of the novel symbolize the foreboding nature of uncertainty. At the beginning of the novel, Futaki hears bells ringing, even though there are no bells nearby. The doctor hears the same thing at the end of the novel. The characters’ lives and circumstances are no more certain or stable at the end of the story than at the beginning.

Money

Money in the novel symbolizes the elusive nature of wealth, and the tenacious dynamics of poverty. The villagers have highly limited financial means, and many of them often scheme to acquire more money, frequently through possible theft. The novel reflects the generally uncertain nature of wealth, especially when attempting to rise out of poverty.

Esti’s death

Esti’s death symbolizes the potential fatal cost of moral failings. Esti is generally treated as an outcast, both within the...