Alan's Fish (Symbol)
When Alan Michaels dies from polio, Bucky visits his home in order to pay the family his respects. While there, Mr. Michaels shares his fond memories of Alan and comments on his son's gentle nature. Mr. Michaels explains Alan's affinity for tropical fish. According to Alan's father, the young boy was quite knowledgeable about different species and loved to share his learnings with others. After Alan's death, his father remarks about feeding and caring for the fish he left behind. Alan's pet fish is a reminder of his tender character. Although Alan has passed away unexpectedly, he lives on through his aquatic companions.
The Perfect Peach (Symbol)
After Bucky has been chastised by Mrs. Kopferman, he is confused and guilty about his role in the polio epidemic. He realizes that he doesn't know that much about the disease or its effects, and he desires to learn more from a medical expert. Bucky visits Dr. Steinberg, Marcia's father. While at the Steinbergs' home, Bucky is comforted by the doctor's advice. He reassures Bucky that he is doing the right thing by maintaining the playground, and Bucky becomes less anxious and guilty about his choices. While sitting on the porch, Bucky bites into a sweet, "perfect peach." In Chinese mythology, peaches symbolize longevity and immortality. In this context, Bucky's fears about death and disease are eased by his consumption of the fruit. Upon tasting the peach, Bucky feels immediately comforted. This positive feeling prompts him to ask for Marcia's hand in marriage and become a member of the warm and friendly Steinberg family.
Darkness (Motif)
The motif of darkness appears throughout the story. When Bucky visits the home of Alan Michaels, he notices that the shades are drawn and dark drapes are pulled across all of the windows. In this example, darkness represents the sadness that the family feels as they grieve for their dead child. Later in the novel, the motif of darkness recurs during Bucky's experience at Indian Hill camp. Bucky and Marcia can only meet in the darkness of night. During their rendezvous, the couple has small arguments that prevent them from fully understanding one another and their respective anxieties. Later, a darkness settles over the camp and causes Bucky to feel unresolved. In this instance, the darkness foreshadows that the "utopia" of Indian Hill is coming to an end.
Heat (Motif)
The summer of 1944 is notable for its oppressive heat. Bucky discusses the heat as if it is a character in the novel; it has an overwhelming presence that drives people's actions and causes the citizens of Weequahic to feel desperate and uncomfortable. Much like polio itself, the heat is inescapable and oppressive. The temperature causes the air to grow thick, and it is often personified as "carrying" and "spreading" the disease. In the bible, heat is associated with hell and the devil. Roth creates a cruel physical environment in order to convey that Weequahic during the summer of 1944 was Hell on Earth.
Butterflies (Symbol)
One afternoon, a huge swarm of butterflies settles over Indian Hill. For an hour during the middle of the afternoon, the butterflies "could be seen erratically dipping and darting over the playing fields and thickly perched on the tape of the tennis nets." The butterflies are an anomaly, and no one is able to explain the conditions that led to their arrival. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the butterflies symbolize radical change. While Indian Hill is depicted as paradisiacal, it is not immune to the pandemic that rocks the rest of the country. Soon after the butterflies arrive, Donald contracts a severe case of polio. Indian Hill camp is no longer an elite escape from the disease; instead, it is a new epicenter.
