Sami as a symbol of innocence
Sami is a seven-year-old child who dies in an explosion during the Syrian conflict. Sami represents the innocent children caught in war conflicts and is the prime victim. Children have not wronged anyone, but during the war, they are the ones who suffer the most. The author highlights the death of Sami and Mustafa's son to symbolize the brutality of war and its negative effects on blameless citizens.
The Journey to England
The author highlights the journey of Nuri and his wife to Europe to show the brutality refugees are exposed to during evacuation to new countries. After losing their son in an explosion in Syria, Nuri and his wife, alongside other refugees, start a journey to Europe to seek asylum. Refugees travel long distances without food and water to locate new boundaries. After getting to borders, most refugees are denied entry on claims of terrorism, insecurity, lack of visas, among other obstacles. During the journey, Afra is sexually abused by smugglers who aid them in processing passports to enter the UK. Nuri and his wife put up with the sexual assault incident because they do not have an alternative since their primary objective is to find asylum in the UK.
Beekeeping as a symbol of hard work
The author figuratively uses beekeeping to show the good life refugees are forced to leave behind to run for their safety. Most people in Syria were doing their businesses and farming to sustain their lives comfortably without relying on donors before the war. For instance, Nuri was a hardworking beekeeper focused n improving his business to provide for his family. However, when the war broke out, Nuri and other refugees became beggars and were forced to run away from their homes to Europe to seek refuge.
