Geese Pond
The geese pond outside the Kamijo boardinghouse is what gives the book its English title. At the start of the story, Ogai openly states the geese pond has long since been replaced by a bicycle track. The destruction of the geese pond is an imagery of the conflict between tradition and modernized Japan. The fleeting nature of both the geese and the pond's existence represents the romance in the book.
Actors
The actors and theater which appears many times throughout the book and is frequented by Otama's father. The image of the actors represents the freedom of fantasy both Otama and Okada seek. They are never able to achieve it though as neither ever attends the theater or meets the other. The ideal of the theater (and thus fantasy) always exists in the world beyond them. They can never abandon their own roles to truly meet.
Otama's Mind
The descriptions of Otama's mind and thought-process show the conflict of her inner-character. Often described as a “well-oiled machine”, Otama's mind can easily come to conclusions, but her body is unable to take the action. She is stuck in the world of her own thoughts. The conflict is between Otama's traditional mind and her modern desires. She is stuck in the world of her role as a mistress, but desires Okada's world. The two can never unite though as Otama seems unable to overcome her own habits.
Killing Of The Snake
Okada's killing of the snake to protect the bird purchased for Otama. The figures of the snake and the living bird represent Suezo and Otama. The scenario represents Otama's desire for Okada to liberate her from her situation into freedom. The action is even compared to a fairy-tale. Okada as the galant knight protecting the princess Otama. Okada uses a fish-knife to cut the snake in half as it has already consumed one bird (representative of Suezo's current wife).
A Dish Of Boiled Mackerel
The disgusting meal which Ogai despises that ends the story. The dinner is what ends up preventing Okada and Otama's meeting. The time taken to eat the meal ends up preventing the narrator (suggested to be Ogai) and Okada from meeting Otama on the street. The two instead are convinced by another student to help him hunt a goose in the geese pond. As such, the meal gives Ogai nothing but foul memories which he does not truly until he meets Otama decades later. Ogai ends on the dish of boiled mackerel, but ultimately suggests it also caused something to happen between the narrator and Otama years later. Ogai refuses to reveal what it was though so the reader is left with the mystery.
