Dancing
In Shuggie Bain, the act of dancing is used as a symbol of joy, identity, and hope. When Shuggie is very young, he dances to make Agnes feel better when she is depressed and…
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Agnes’s Phone
Like the exterior view of the Bains’ home, Agnes’s phone serves as another omen of her emotional state. Beside it sits her black book of addresses and phone numbers, which she annotates with nasty…
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House Exteriors
Throughout the novel, the exterior appearance of the Bain household serves as a symbol for Agnes’s state of being. Catherine is the first to demonstrate this skill, arriving home late at night after Agnes’s…
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Black Cabs
In Shuggie Bain, black cabs (known as “hackney cabs”) function as a symbol of abandonment and abuse. They are most strongly linked to Shug’s character. His nightshift driving the cab allows him to…
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