Jude’s Self-Harm
The cuts, scars, burns, and bruises Jude incurs from his recurrent self-harm symbolize Jude’s childhood trauma and his inability to overcome that trauma. Jude began to use self-harm to cope with feelings of internalized shame…
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Houses, Apartments, and Cabins
Houses symbolize security and protection. The novel opens when Willem and Jude, in their 20s and fresh out of college, move into their Lispenard Street apartment. The apartment is objectively awful—it’s impossibly small and…
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Jude’s Wheelchair
Jude’s wheelchair symbolizes his struggle to accept his trauma and disability. Though Jude learns how to walk again after Dr. Traylor runs over him with his car, the attack leaves Jude with chronic pain…
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