Bee sting
The novel starts with the background on how Anthony’s father died from an unfortunate fate-being stung by a bee. This awakes a long-lasting trauma in Anthony, who was barely a man at the time, and the belief that he will die young like his father. Bee sting symbolizes the tragic and unpredictable death, the reality of mortality of man.
The pocket watch from Anthony’s father
The pocket watch that Anthony inherited from his father as a family heirloom is symbolic because it represents the importance of family, but it is also symbolic because of time. It is a reminder of the passing of time and Anthony’s belief that he doesn’t have much time left to live.
Pink mallet
Preparing for the game of Paille Maille, everyone agrees to leave the pink mallet to Anthony to provoke him. It is clear that the meaning behind it is to make him feel less masculine, because the pink color is connected to weakness and femininity. Gender roles and gender norms are very heteronormative in the novel, with all aspects falling into perceived femininity and masculinity.
Kate’s fear of thunderstorms
Kate’s irrational fear of thunderstorms is revealed to represent her deeply embedded trauma connected to her mother’s death. While she managed to consciously suppress it, her subconsciousness is still plagued by the memory. It also helps Anthony relate even more to her, with both having similar experiences, losing parents very young.
