God's Thumb, which Stanley also refers to as Big Thumb, is a rock formation in the mountains several miles away from Camp Green Lake. It looks like a fist making a thumbs-up sign on a massive scale. It comes to represent the sentience of nature within the world of the novel, especially as Stanley and Zero begin their journey towards it. Stanley in particular feels as though the rock is encouraging him and urging him on. Stanley, Zero, and the first Stanley all survive thanks to the water and onions available around the rock formation. This suggests that nature's benevolence is reserved for those who are willing to look for it and respect the natural world. On the other hand, God's Thumb is barely visible from Camp Green Lake, an area that has been effectively abandoned by nature, unless one is specifically looking for it.
God's Thumb Quotes in Holes
He kept walking toward it, although he didn't know why. He knew he'd have to turn around before he got there. But every time he looked at it, it seemed to encourage him, giving him the thumbs-up sign.
Higher and higher he climbed. His strength came from somewhere deep inside himself and also seemed to come from the outside as well. After focusing on Big Thumb for so long, it was as if the rock had absorbed his energy and now acted like a kind of giant magnet pulling him toward it.
God's Thumb Symbol Timeline in Holes
