Another symbol which is used throughout the novel is the symbol of the pinball machine. “His dread of the steel ball thumping hollowly into the depths of the pinball machine, the inevitability of it despite the frantic flicking of the small rubber wings unable to reach” is a line which shows that no matter how hard you try in the end you will always fail. “Funnelled towards the act he had decided upon” also shows this inevitability, that even though he had chosen to kill the boy for his own good, there was no longer any other options, everything was pointing towards this. “The inescapability of the grand mal that was to come” continues this idea, by telling the reader that there is no way back now and that there is nothing else that could happen. These lines show the reader that the symbol of then pinball machine represents inevitability and fate.
A symbol which is associated with hope, at least as far as religion is concerned, is the fish. it is a symbol for Christianity, dating back to the time of the ancient Romans when they had to be secretive. The author also uses characteristics of fish for description. For example the author describes haddock as “slimy”, which describes him well as he is a very sly character. The author says that Owen taking a fit looked like a fish, which is a very effective use of symbolism as it puts the image of a fish fluttering about out of water into the readers mind, which is very similar to the way Owen moves while he is having his fit.
Another animal symbol which is significant is the symbol of the lamb, this is very effectively used throughout the novel to prepare the reader for the ending. Owen means “lamb” in Gaelic, Owens “Gran called him lamb”. This is particularly significant as lamb was the traditional animal used for sacrifice in Christianity, and sacrifice if a major theme throughout the novel. Michael sacrificed Owen for his own good. Michael says at least twice in the novel “sacrifice was required” which shows it was in his mind from the beginning, and the line ”what he planned was for love” shows it was not out of hatred, but was to stop Owen living a life of deprivation.
There is important symbolism in the title of the book at the reception, “an act of love” which links to the sacrifice theme. It continues the idea that killing Owen was “an act of love” and for his own good. This title is not noticeably significant until the novel has been read, on a second read this is one of many symbols which become noticeable and significant. This title is significant to the story as it begins to prepare the reader for the ending, and shows the reasoning behind Michael’s choice.
The myth of Daedalus and Icarus turns out to be highly symbolic in the novel. It is significant because in the myth Daedalus is responsible for his son’s death while trying to save him from the captivity the king held them in, while in the novel Michael is responsible for Owen’s death, and he is saving him from a life of deprivation and suffering that he would live when they were finally found by the police.
In conclusion, Bernard Mac Laverty’s use of these symbols is very effective as it reveals alot about how the novel will end, by providing hints to what is going to happen and the reasons for the event. The way the author uses symbolism to hint at what will become is very effective as alot of it is not really noticeable until a second read of the novel. All in all the authors use of symbolism contributes highly to the success of the novel.
