Squirrels

Squirrels symbolize the tension in Veblen and Paul’s relationship. Veblen is an animal-lover who especially has an affinity for squirrels. She finds them fascinating and complex, and she even partially believes that she can communicate with them. Meanwhile, Paul sees them as a pest and a mindless, vile nuisance. When a squirrel invades the attic of Veblen’s cottage, Paul wishes to trap it, viewing it as a pest, but Veblen wishes to leave it alone, seeing it as a noble and intelligent creature. This dispute remains festering for the rest of the novel, until Paul finally experiences a significant shift in his personality and point of view, finally accepting Veblen, his family, and the squirrel.

Marketing

Marketing symbolizes deceit and lack of compassion. In keeping with her personal morals and philosophies, Veblen is quite wary of marketing, viewing it as a tool to create...