Names
Names are a recurring motif in the novel and through the novel, they constantly reflect and represent the fleeting nature of society and human interaction. The value of personal identity and the sense of self is called into question with this recurring motif.
The Central Registry
The Central Registry at which Senhor Jose works is symbolic of a surveillance state. The Registry watches over and watches the lives of the clerks under its jurisdiction and intervenes when it deems actions taken by individual clerks to be not ideal (such as the actions of Senhor Jose).
In this sense, the Registry also acts as a pseudo symbol for the State, which is always watching over and watching out for its people, for better or for worse. This echoes the theme of surveillance throughout the novel.
Senhor Jose
Senhor Jose is symbolic of many things although his relevance to the various themes vary in their weights throughout the novel. Senhor Jose begins as a symbol of the average joe. He holds an average job working for an average governmental body. In almost every sense, he is an ordinary citizen who leads an ordinary life.
However, as the novel progresses, his symbolism shifts toward that of the human condition. In some sense, he is both a reflection of everyone yet not a reflection of anyone. In a way, his actions resonate with the reader simply because he is a symbol of the human condition. The constant obsession with the lives of others and his interactions with others, while largely exaggerated in the novel, is an expression of the human condition.
