Tarantula
The author uses a tarantula to symbolize Mabel Tolkien's hatred for Africa. Tarantula is the spider that bites Ronald while running away from the nurse. Despite living in Africa for many years, Mrs. Mabel believes that Africa is cursed, and that is symbolized by the action of the tarantula biting his son. Consequently, Mrs. Mabel does not love Africa because it is bushy with weird creatures that put her son's life in danger. However, she has no option but to continue living in Africa because her husband has invested many resources in their extensive farmland.
Camelthorn Tree
The camelthorn tree symbolizes Ronald's ambition to write about dragons in the future. While sitting on the balcony, Ronald opens a book and sees an armored knight with a two-headed dragon sword. Immediately after seeing this picture, Ronald thinks of the camelthorn tree that gives him courage. On the following day, Ronald asks the houseboy to take him to the wild grass so that he can climb the camelthorn tree to look for the tarantula that bit him the previous day. According to Ronald, the spider is as big as a dragon, and he is on a mission to kill it. Therefore, Ronald's career of writing about dragons and lords of kings is symbolized by the camelthorn tree that gave him courage when he was a young boy.
Ronald symbolizes brilliance
The author figuratively uses Ronald to symbolize brilliance. Since childhood, the author describes Ronald as a bright and observant boy. The author writes, "Ronald had been, from the start, an observant child, quick to mark details around him – the shop signs along Maitland Street; the gray-blue of the Indian Ocean, where he was bathed; the wilting boughs of the eucalyptus tree at his first Christmas." Additionally, Ronald was keen on everything his father did and always accompanied him to learn new things daily. In his later years, the reader acknowledges Ronald's brilliance because he emerged as one of the best authors in the world.
