The Ocean
The image of the ocean is one that recurs throughout the novel, as Guernsey is an island and Juliet frequently has to cross the sea to get there. The vivid imagery of the sea spray and cold water comes to be a symbol for how isolated Guernsey is from the rest of the world, and how Juliet comes to feel refreshed when she goes there and is isolated from her problems back in London. The ocean also represents peacefulness with its even rhythm, and the peace that it brings the characters.
The Prisoners of War
The Guernsey locals write often about the prisoners of war who were brought to work on Guernsey by the Nazis. Their descriptions are of emaciated people worked to death and who don't have sufficient food or clothing. These vivid images are representative of the horrors of war, and specifically the horrors of Nazi occupation on Guernsey, that the locals endured and that Juliet will always be a bit out of touch with.
The American Lifestyle
Juliet's boyfriend Mark is American and brings with him images of the American lifestyle: he wears fancy suits and ties, is described as extremely handsome and healthy-looking, and wants Juliet to join him at high-society events. This image of the wealthy American lifestyle is present whenever Mark is, because his appearance and lifestyle are so different from the British characters. His image represents the removal of America from World War II, as America was not occupied and did not see the levels of horror that Guernsey did, and his obsession with wealth and high society creates an image that is the antithesis of the other characters.
Starvation
Eben writes about the children on Guernsey who were malnourished during the occupation, including a 12 year old boy who weighed what a 7 year old should. This image of starvation, present across discussions of Guernsey during the occupation, shows the horrors of war, and how the most vulnerable (children, the elderly) are always the most at risk.
