Symbol: Stuart
The primary symbol of the story is, of course, Stuart himself. He represents everyone who is different or not like everyone else. More specifically, he is a symbol of those whose difference notably deviates from the norm. Stuart is a symbol of acceptance and understanding despite atypical appearance.
Symbol: "Not even a louse"
In their effort to erase all mentions and references to mice from the family environment, the family goes so far as to alter the lyrics of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” so that it reads “Not a creature was stirring, not even a louse.” This choice to ignore what makes Stuart different rather than confront it is made from love and with the genuine intent to save their son from embarrassment and nightmares. When combined with other attempts to conform Stuart to the same sort of life as that experienced by his brother George, it becomes a symbol of the ridiculous measures that are sometimes taken to force assimilation into society.
