The Baby Swans

The baby swans that Clara nurtures, at the beginning of the novel, serve as a symbol for her character. Like the small birds that will be destroyed by the rest of the flock if they are discovered, Clara is susceptible to exploitation by greedy artists, like Dr. Chastern. After Chastern discovers that she is a muse, he abducts her and endangers her creative expressions.

Orrery

The orrery that Eustace explains to the Crouch brothers, serves as a symbol for creative energy. Like the planets that follow their own orbits, heedless to the whims of man, creativity and the muse cannot be dictated by the artist. While the characters can touch the orrery, they cannot control the larger movements of the celestial orbs. Similarly, they can touch Mr. Crowe and Clara, but they cannot dictate the articulations of their creativity.

The Bruised Rose Petal

The...