The Lake
The Lake is the most important symbol in the novel and it remains consistently present in the novel until the end. The lake is used here to symbolize the past, a distant time filled with secrets that can never be fully explored or understood. The Lake in the novel has mythical proportions and so when Kathy disappears, the police displace a large number of boats to look for her. The lake is also dangerous, with sand dunes that could cause accidents and with the possibility of fog appearing out of nowhere. In a similar way, John’s past is dangerous and unpredictable and the reader and other characters can never be sure if John is telling the truth or if he is lying.
A few mistakes
In the tenth chapter, John mentions a song he put in his hotel room after he was elected on the State Senate. The song was by Frank Sinatra and it is important because it symbolizes John’s life. In the song, Frank Sinatra sings about making a few mistakes and taking bad decisions and the reader realizes quickly that John did the same in his life.
Kill Jesus
John is an enigmatic character who remains a mystery for a big portion of the novel. One of his most controversial habits is uttering the phrase ‘’Kill Jesus’’ when he is mad or frustrated and so his habit becomes a recurrent motif.
His fault
Another common motif in the novel is the idea that John blames himself for the tragic events that took place in his life. He first of all blames himself for not saving his father and then he blames himself for his wife’s disappearance. In both cases, he felt as if there was something he could have done to save those dear to him.
In need of a child
A motif in the novel is Kathy’s desire to have a child. Especially in the first chapter, she mentions having a child numerous times and she even thinks about baby names and how life would be if she were to have a child. However it is hinted that Kathy cannot have children because of her age and even John hints that it may be too late to have a child.
