The Red-Haired Woman

Gülcihan, the red-haired woman, symbolizes beauty, longing, and maternity. As a teenager, Cem becomes infatuated with the red-haired woman and views her as a paragon of beauty. Moreover, her age and her relationship with Cem's father cements her role as Cem's symbolic mother in the book's parallels to the story of Oedipus.

The Well

The well symbolizes paternity and tragedy. As Cem and Mahmut work together on the well, they form a bind like that of a father and son. However, their bond is broken when Cem accidentally drops a bucket down the well and believes that he has killed Mahmut. This moment also serves as a parallel to Eternal the novel and Oedipus.

The Pharmacy

Cem's father's pharmacy symbolizes stability and familiarity. Cem and his parents appear to have a generally peaceful and stable life at the beginning of the novel, with...