Stories

Thomas’ stories symbolize the necessity of narrativization as a means of drawing wisdom from past events. Thomas has an unusual habit of telling stories, but the narrative portrays these stories as inherently valuable. They often draw directly from real life, and they contain valuable moral and philosophical ideas.

Fight

Victor’s physical attack on Thomas symbolizes the deleterious effects of shunning members of the community. When teenage Victor attacked Thomas, he seemed motivated in part by a need to distance himself from the socially ostracized Thomas. This attack parallels Thomas’ general status as a social outcast, as people ignore him and his stories thereby losing all potential value that Thomas’ stories provide.

Flight

Young Thomas’ attempt to fly symbolizes the tensions between aspirations and practical limitations. When Thomas was a child, he jumped off of a roof to try to fly. He fell and broke his...