Mackintosh
Mackintosh is a symbolic character in many ways. He serves as a criticism of colonialism and Walker’s patronizing view of the natives. He represents the outside perspective of the tides of the colonized state, he is against Walker, but still objectively notes the positive of what he’s doing. Finally, Mackintosh’s death at the end, represents his refusal to not get involved. He has an opportunity to make a change, to lead the natives better than Walker, but decides against it.
The revolver
Mackintosh makes a decision to leave the path to revolver open for Manuma. It is a choice made in anger, and he soon regrets it. He takes the revolver and goes out into the sea, and makes an irreversible choice yet again. It is interesting that the entire story is about loud Walker and his vileness, when the quiet and subdued Mackintosh makes the most vile and final attack.
The roads
The roads are Walker’s only dream. He dreams of modernizing the island with roads build all over it. It can be discussed whether the roads are for his personal gain, the gain of the native community, or both. They represent a gray area, their benefit for the native community is immense, but Walker’s treatment and extortion of the people to build them is problematic.
Children
Walker constantly repeats that he sees the native villagers as his children. He sees himself as their authoritative, fatherly figure who knows what’s best for them. It is left unsaid that he asserted his dominance and control over them, under the guise of their benefit, which represents the essential idea of colonialism.
