Symbol of Sarojini
Sarojini is used more as a symbol in the book than a character that effectively interacts with the social environment and the other characters. Sarojini pops up multiple times at the book, such as when she sends letters to Willie while he is in college, and she symbolizes his past. Willie works hard to flee the mark that has tainted him since his childhood, the mark of his father's actions and marriage with his mother. However, he can never completely escape his past, as seen by Sarojini's continued connection to him. She reminds him of all the things they have been through and essentially scolds him in her letters, acting like a secondary mother and forcing him to come to terms with himself and do something with his life. Willie stays in contact with Sarojini throughout his life.
Motif of Identity
A recurring motif that can be found throughout the entirety of the novel is the motif of identity. Willie is constantly looking to create a new identity for himself in the book, or he is trying to escape certain parts of it. At the beginning, he is escaping the identity associated with his father and his family, the part of him that shames him and which he attempts to hide. Then in London, Willie tries to find a new identity for himself by distancing himself from his father through his sexual adventures and attempting to increase his confidence through interactions with multiple women at the university. Finally, he tries to find his identity at the Portuguese colony in Africa with Ana. This is the main motif of the novel and drives the entire book.
Symbol of the African Bush
The African Bush is itself a symbol. When Willie decides to marry Ana and move with her to her estate home in the Portuguese colony in Africa, he encounters the wilderness of the African bush. Ana asks him if he will be able to manage living life in the bush and he sees he will be able to but he can't. The bush represents the foreignness of the country and the foreignness of the life he tries to lead there with Ana. He doesn't know the language, he doesn't know the people, he doesn't know the traditions, and he doesn't know himself. The African bush represents this foreignness and appears multiple times in the book, especially at times when Willie is "lost" or realizing the regret he has of his decision to move there.
Motif of Confidence
Confidence is a motif that occurs many times in the novel. The main use of this motif is Willie trying to find confidence in himself and his character. The lack of confidence starts from the very beginning. Willie has little to no money, his family background is horrendous in his own eyes, and is going off to a foreign land where he has no idea what to expect. This lack of confidence is a key part of him that shapes him and his everyday actions, especially when he tries to battle it. Willie works to gain more confidence in himself by hiding his family background and bringing himself into relationships with multiple girls. We see him trying to find this confidence through interactions with many women over the course of the novel, even during his marriage. This shows how the motif of confidence was one that was central to the understanding of the novel.
Symbol of Land Rovers
Land Rovers are a symbol that pops up many times in the novel, especially in the section where the setting is located in the Portuguese colony in Africa. The majority of the people are suffering from harsh times and don't have the finances and wealth available to purchase luxuries such as Land Rovers. These Land Rovers allow their owners to travel across the African bush and meet other estate neighbors. In this way, Land Rovers become a symbol of wealth and affluence in the novel. They represent the luxuries that their buyers are able to afford, and indirectly, act as a symbol for the various activities these buyers partake in, in contrast with the common majority.
