God (Symbol of spiritual authority and source of happiness)
According to the narrator, human life is dependent on God. Human beings are created in the image of God, and an indication that God was there from the beginning and he will reign to eternity. In his writings, Canterbury reminds people to remember God because he is the Supreme Being and holder of human life. The author writes, "Come now, O Lord my God," to illustrate that human life without God is useless. Consequently, true happiness is achieved when one knows and acknowledges the presence of God in his life.
The angels’ bread
The angels' bread symbolizes sacredness that depicts the presence of God. When the author says that human beings ate angels' bread, he signifies the disobedience of man. God gives human beings instructions on what to do and what to avoid doing, but man thinks that he is clever than God. Therefore, going against God's will breeds sorrow and misery in human beings.
Adam (Symbol of human suffering)
The genesis of human suffering began when Adam disobeyed God and opted to follow the selfish desires of his heart. The author reminds readers that Adam was placed in a heaven full of good things that a man needs on earth. However, Adam decided to disobey God, and God chased him from the Garden of Eden to suffer and do hard labor. The author writes, “Alas for the common lamentation of human beings, the universal outcry of the children of Adam! He was satisfied to the full; we sigh with hunger. He had everything he needed; we go begging.”
Death (Symbol of human punishment)
God's intention for human beings was for them to live in eternity because he wanted Adam and his generation to be immortal. However, Adam went against God's instructions, and that was the beginning of suffering. Firstly, God imposed death as one of the vital punishments in human life. Every person who is born must die at some time. Readers are aware that Adam and the earl generations are all long dead. After Adam was sent away from Eden, the author asks, “Why did he take away our life and inflict death upon us?” the simple answer to this question that human beings are paying for the sins of Adams. They deviated from the purpose that he was created to serve.
