Sarah’s Missing Finger
Sarah’s missing middle finger represents her loss of innocence as she is forced to recognize that people around the world suffer many horrors while she lives her safe, comfortable, insulated life. When Sarah and…
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Charlie’s Batman Costume
Charlie’s Batman costume represents the protective identities that Charlie, Sarah, and Little Bee construct for themselves to hide from fear and emotional pain. Although four-year-old Charlie does not fully understand death, he senses…
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The Color Gray
In the novel, the color gray symbolizes the lifelessness, fatigue, and numbness which Little Bee and Sarah both feel throughout the story. Little Bee thinks that if she designed a flag for refugees, it would…
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The Men
Throughout the novel, Little Bee refers to anyone she feels she must hide from as “the men.” The men are the embodiment of Little Bee’s fear, representing any person who would wish to do her…
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