Alcohol
The author uses alcohol figuratively as a drinking ritual that symbolizes religion. According to the people, a drinking ritual serves God and empowers the drinkers to preach unity among the community members.
Women
Women in the text symbolize the pillar of society. Unlike men, women are depicted as resilient, hardworking, concerned, and loving. More importantly, women are determined to fight for their rights. For instance, women are determined to explore their various roles and capabilities. Towards the end of the book, women manage to fight discrimination and fight for equal rights.
God
The author uses God emblematically to represent Supreme authority. The author reminds readers that even in ancient society, they believed that God exists because they performed various sacrifices, including a drinking ritual. Therefore, God is Supreme because he existed in the early days and continues to reign forever.
The symbolism of gender discrimination
Gender discrimination in the text is symbolized by the roles assigned to women and the physical abuse directed towards them. Society is entirely patriarchal, and women are made to believe that their role is limited to giving birth, respecting the man, and doing household chaos. Similarly, men instilled fear in women by physically abusing them to believe that they are a weak gender. Therefore, women were discriminated against in almost all aspects of society.
The symbolism of men’s insecurities
How Maya Town men treat women shows that they are insecure with diminishing self-worth. Men mistreat women because they were deprived of sell-worth while growing up by their fathers. Boys grow up under the care of drunken fathers who abuse them and make them feel insignificant. Therefore, when these boys become adults, they feel insecure and express their frustrations by physically abusing their wives and daughters.
