Islands
The boy confesses his passion for pictures. He compares them to islands that allow one to access seas of words. He says, “The truth is I need pictures, they are like islands, places to get to in a sea of words.” The boy’s metaphorical sea appeals to the famous proverb, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” A picture can be used to relay messages equivalent to thousands of words. Accordingly, the boy delights in viewing images.
Wild and Life
The boy explains that life is similar to the wild. The boy remarks, “I think the wild is a bit like life—frightening sometimes but beautiful." Both are beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Watching the wild enables the boy and the mole to enjoy life and forget their lonely lives. Creatures such as the boy and the mole must face life courageously because it has both good and bad aspects that are intertwined.
Sixpence
The book is set in the springtime when the weather is largely unpredictable. Mackesy explains the implications of the season: "one moment snow is falling and the sun shines the next, which is also a little bit like life-it can turn on a sixpence." The rapid changes in weather conditions are similar to a sixpence. The sun can shine after a snowfall during the spring. Therefore, the characters must brace themselves for unpredictable conditions, which are comparable to the uncertainties inherent in their lives.
