Sleep

Sleep represents Jakub’s level of comfort after a given scenario in this novel. When Jakub is stressed, such as when Hanuš disappears for six days, Jakub becomes an insomniac. Typically, this occurs when something affects Jakub’s psychology. However, after a good day, or a moment in which Jakub attains closure about something, Jakub sleeps peacefully. For example, after a good discussion with Hanuš, Jakub is comfortable, so he sleeps well.

Food

Food represents Jakub’s isolation. Jakub starts to personify food before Hanuš appears. For example, he refers to it as is “co-conspirator” (14). This shows that Jakub is lonely, and he sees food as his companion.

Jakub's Cigar Box

The cigar box containing Jakub’s grandfather’s ashes, which he takes to space with him, symbolizes the immense amount of love that Jakub has for his grandfather. Jakub believes that his grandfather would say...