Ironically, dawn symbolizes hope in Dawn, though on the surface, it also signals death. Dawn is the hour at which Elisha executes John Dawson, as well as when David ben Moshe is hung by the British. After Elisha shoots Dawson at dawn, he sees his face reflected in the window. Because such faces normally appear at nightfall, this reflection suggests that Elisha’s actions have led to a kind of moral death. Yet the appearance of his face at dawn is ambiguous, hinting that Elisha’s willingness to face his victim’s humanity might lead eventually to his rebirth and the salvaging of his own humanity.
Dawn Quotes in Dawn
The night lifted, leaving behind it a grayish light the color of stagnant water. Soon there was only a tattered fragment of darkness, hanging in midair, the other side of the window. Fear caught my throat. The tattered fragment of darkness had a face. Looking at it, I understood the reason for my fear. The face was my own.
Dawn Symbol Timeline in Dawn
