Symbol - Locks
Being that Petr Sergeievitch is knowledgeable about locks, it is no wonder that his character is surrounded by imagery of locks; and this symbol is present around other characters too. Andrei encounters many locks which are described blatantly throughout the story, which further reinforces this image in our minds. However, Petr’s knowledge of locks is particularly relevant to his character, as he later becomes a successful business partner to Grisha. In his case, locks represent opportunity and growth, economics, and his knowledge of ‘locks’ is what helps him become wealthy. Locks are objects that need a key (prior knowledge found from someone else, or made yourself) that can unlock whole new rooms ‒ they work perfectly in representing the ability to create opportunity by using prior knowledge, which is exactly what Petr does.
Symbol - Spoons
In the text, spoons are a recurring symbol which serve an important part of the deeper meanings. The spoons represent currency/goods that have monetary value. People steal spoons often and melt them down, which could represent the stealing of goods such as jewelry and melting it down for money. The people on the train have become ‘used to having no spoons’, which shows the harsh conditions and reality of the lower class, and how they become accustomed to their lack of goods with monetary value.
Allegory - The Yellow Arrow
The most prominent and obvious allegory of The Yellow Arrow is the train which the text is named after. This train which is said to resemble a bullet plays a big part in the overarching themes and meanings of the novel, shaping the entire message. It represents the progression of life which we all travel through, all at different levels of comfort and success, but ultimately all ending up the same; figuratively, falling from a ruined bridge, or literally, dying.
Symbol - Condoms
Whilst viewing the death of Isis Schopenhauer, Andrei sees the many white roses left in tribute to her. However, he first mistakes these flowers for used condoms, of which there are great quantities lying outside the train. These, while they may seem a strange addition to the imagery, symbolize children that could have been, within the dead sperm. The fact that they are sitting outside of the train means that they are not existing in life, and are considered dead, which in a strange way, reinforces the deeper meanings of the train, and the outside of it.
Motif - Arrow pointing upwards
On Page 14, upon knocking on Khan’s door, Andrei encounters a scratch mark on it which resembles an arrow pointing up. This symbol foreshadows the later revelation and self-awareness that Andrei gains from Khan. As well as this, the connotations of an arrow pointing upwards are positive, bringing to mind ideas of ‘higher thinking’ or even spirituality. These ideas further reinforce the philosophical power that Khan’s character has, and alludes to later themes in the text.
