Baseball

Jim's lucky baseball is a symbol of betrayal. For years prior to Jim's death, Ellie is mistakenly convinced that the baseball is a symbol of love, particularly of the loving bond she and her father share. However, after she discovers the ways in which the baseball is connected to Larry and the ways in which Jim betrayed Larry, the baseball's symbolic significance changes. Jim holds onto the baseball throughout his life, as a reminder of the guilt he feels for betraying his childhood friend.

Tie Rack

The tie rack Jim leaves for Ellie when he dies is a symbol of love. When Ellie first learns that she inherited the tie rack, she mistakenly regards it as a symbol of betrayal. She feels that the tie rack is evidence that her father never loved her. However, at the end of the novel, Rachel tells Ellie that she...