Jacob’s Poems

To Satan, Jacob's poems represent Jacob's best, and probably only, hope for putting his grief about the past in proper perspective; to Jacob, they represent a source of eternal frustration, given how unhappy he is with so much of his work. As the narrative concludes, though, he comes to accept and align with Satan's perspectives, starting to write again in the aftermath of the creativity-nourishing reappearance in his life of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

The Bookshelf

Jacob's bookshelf (Section 2, "The Caryatids") represents a link to Jacob's past - his loving (if difficult) relationship with Doc, the circle of friends within which that relationship evolved, and the sexual identity with which Jacob became increasingly comfortable over time. It also represents his connection with the Fourteen Holy Helpers, the saints whose presence has guided and supported him his whole life.

Pens

Pens and other writing utensils...