Pain

The chronic pain that Zuckerman feels in his neck and shoulders symbolizes the intractable and unavoidable problems of life. Even before the beginning of the novel, Zuckerman has become saddled with problems that he does not appear able to remedy. He has become estranged from his brother, he has become frustrated with his profession, and he has become lonely in the wake of his divorce. Zuckerman’s pain is persistent and appears to have no real remedy, thereby mirroring the other profound problems in his life.

Collar

Zuckerman’s medical collar symbolizes humiliation and impairment. Zuckerman occasionally wears a medical collar as a way of keeping his neck in place and easing his chronic pain. However, the collar does not help much, and it makes him feel not only ridiculous, but also quite aware of his impairment. Zuckerman tries to read the poem “The Collar” by...