The Code
Chester and other fellow Navajo tribesmen are given the task by the Marine Corps to use their native language to create a code that enemy cryptographers cannot crack. The code that they develop becomes the key to winning the second world war. The code that Chester and his comrades develop is more than just a key to military supremacy it is symbolic of the sheer creativity of the marines and the valor of the Navajo recruits. On a deeper, more personal level though The Code represents a bridging between Chester’s Navajo and white American heritage as he used elements present in both languages to create the code.
Fox Holes
Chester relates how much time he and other marines spend in a foxhole. He describes the hideous circumstances in it; the claustrophobia of spending a night in a hole three feet deep and four feet wide, enduring the cold, the damp, and the fear of being riddled with bullets or bombed into bloody pieces. This hole in the ground becomes their miniature fortress and in a very real sense, their home while out in the battlefield. Their safety however is reliant on more than just the foxhole. The foxhole is safe because of the other marines that are in the foxhole watching over their buddies; to a very large extent their war buddies become their sense of normalcy. Because of these circumstances the foxhole becomes symbolic of two things: the hardships that the soldiers must endure during the war but it also becomes symbolic of the deep and very personal bond formed between the marines.
Pouch of Corn Pollen
The pouch of corn pollen that Chester always carries on his person generally serves as a talisman of protection. The pouch and its contents are more than just a good luck charm however, symbolic of his connection to his people, the Navajo. Corn is the dietary staple of the Navajo; it is their literal source of strength fueling everyone in their community from infants, warriors, the elderly, and everyone else in between. Whenever Chester needs to feel secure or feel stronger he takes a pinch of pollen and dabs it on his tongue, ritually imbuing himself with the strength that the plant provided his people. In doing this he also reminds himself of his identity, being able to draw strength from the corn because he is a member of the Navajo nation.
Banzai!
The battle cry of the Japanese soldiers “Banzai” whenever they make a suicide charge is mentioned a number of times in the novel. Initially hearing the cry Banzai became almost like a death sentence. When American soldiers would hear it the next thing they came to expect was a brutal assault from soldiers that were technically already dead. The Banzai war cry and the resultant charge was an extremely effective psychological weapon that the Japanese wielded against their enemies.
Fire
Chester makes several fond references to fire. In fact, many of his fondest and most cherished memories take place around a fire: he fondly recalls staying by his family gathered around a blazing fire during cold winters. Fire therefore is symbolic of warmth, community, and safety--and during certain periods of Chester’s life, sanity itself. During the darkest, most tumultuous times in his life it was these memories of care, love, and community as they congregated around a warm, crackling bonfire that helped keep him from succumbing to despair and madness.
