The Aliens

Given that the story is, on some level, an allegory, and given that an allegory is, by definition, an extended metaphor, the aliens can be seen as a metaphor with significant thematic implications. Specifically, they can be seen as representing a universal "other," something that is literally "alien" to accepted, popular, or common understanding and experience. They, their presence, and their efforts at communication are the story's central symbolic references to its thematic emphasis on the value of reaching out to, and not confronting, "the other."

The Looking Glasses

As a symbol, the looking glass in the story (one of several placed by the aliens around the world) can be seen as a thematically-linked representation of the power and value of, and need for, open and transparent communication when encountering "the other." The looking glass, a term usually synonymous with "mirror," is a portal for...