The Rat Holes
The author uses the rat holes to symbolize the cold season in Liberty City. The author writes, "In Liberty City, the rat holes in the crack houses would whistle with cold." During the cold season, rat holes whistle because the rodents find refuge elsewhere away from their holes, a common occurrence in Liberty City.
Color
Color is symbolic in the novel because it represents the good things in Cowart's life. When Cowart separates from his wife, he says that all the color fled away, implying that everything he adored and valued left him. The author writes, "Sometimes he thought that when his wife had taken their daughter, all the color had fled from his life." Consequently, Cowart has to find new ways of bringing color into his life, including exercising and putting more effort into his editorial work.
The Almighty
The Almighty symbolizes God and his ability to enable humans to achieve impossible assignments. When Martin tells Cowart that he has a tough assignment before him, Cowart answers, "I have a much better connection to the Almighty. It helps in this job." In this regard, the Almighty is the Supreme Being that makes things happen where human beings despair.
