Occam’s razor
Occam's razor symbolizes Devereaux's confusion. Devereaux does not know which path to follow. Devereaux faces many challenges in his life. For instance, he is trying to cope with divorce and the pressure of heading an English department on the Railton campus that he does not want. Devereaux's past is also complex because he believes that his present problems are linked to the mistakes of his parents and ancestors. Due to his confusion, Devereaux leads a miserable life despite having a prestigious teaching position at Railton Campus.
Allegany Estates II
Allegany Estates II symbolizes a curse that the residents are struggling to overcome. Nothing goes well in the estate because the houses are faulty, the drainage needs to improve, and the vegetations have stunted growth. All these problems reflect Paul Rourke's challenges in the English department at Railton Campus. Rourke is always lonely and wants to avoid associating with other members.
The computer center
The computer center symbolizes Railton Campus' financial challenges. After launching the computer center, the institution's management asks all departments to forward the names of people to be laid off because the institution does not have enough funds to run regular activities. Devereaux opposes this move but realizes that his English department needs more funds to run its daily activities.
