Green Belly

The green belly of the sorrowful beast is a symbol of mystery. The narrator believes she understands the beasts, but in the end she learns that their oddly colored bellies are not just decorative--they hide a second set of teeth that can consume human beings after mating.

Birds

Birds are a symbol of connection between humans and beasts. The beasts in the story are monstrous, while humans are depicted as ordinary members of nature. The birds act as a link between the two, which is why the mayor bans them from the city of Yong'an.

Extermination

The extermination of the sacrificial beasts is a symbol of government corruption. Although tasked with protecting the remaining endangered sacrificial beasts, the government decides to exterminate them in order to protect the humans who are willingly committing suicide in an effort to mimic the beasts.

Forked Tongues

The forked...