Animals
Animals are both the avatars and followers of the various gods/primal spirits in the novel. They are often also portrayed as manifestations of divine power or the express presence of a Primal Spirit. Spiders/or spider webs follow the children of Anansi and thus become a symbol of good fortune for Charlie being the son of the trickster god. Birds are avatars and subjects of the Bird Woman whom Anansi Sr. had wronged and by default anything remotely related or relating to birds therefore becomes a de facto symbol of trouble for Charlie and his brother Spider.
Magic/Spirits/Ghosts Magic
Magic/Spirits/Ghosts Magic and the presence of Spirits/Ghosts are central to the novel as well as a repeating theme and plot driver. A ritual is used to send Charlie to the “Beginning of the World” and the mischievous Spider uses magic for virtually everything. The vengeful spirit-god Tiger, upon possessing the body of impossibly greedy Grahame Coats, is defeated by the ghosts of Anansi and Maeve Livingston.
Songs
Songs are a frequently encountered symbol within the novel. Songs are given almost mystic and divine properties and they regularly accompany a major milestone or major turning point in the life of one of the characters. The novel also explores the idea that everyone has their own personal song, a kind of musical translation of one’s inclinations and life purpose. Daisy sings about her life as a law enforcer and Charlie discovers his connection to his deity father through a previously unknown talent for singing. The trickster-god Anansi dies while performing at a local karaoke club, Charlie’s divine powers only manifest themselves through songs. Songs are used by the primal spirit-gods to create the world at the Beginning of Time, and even the murderous Tiger spirit, who couldn’t care less about such things like music, mentions looking forward to singing a new song glorifying hunting, blood, and primal fear of predators.
Stories
Stories, much like Songs, are also attributed practically divine qualities. The murderous spirit-god, Tiger, used to rule over the primordial landscape of “The Beginning of the World”, until that is, Anansi stole and changed the Tiger’s story. This seemingly harmless act of changing a story however implies that in an ephemeral place like the primordial spirit world, ideas are real and the act of changing a subtle details of a story being circulated, once passed around often enough becomes truth and from there becomes reality.
Women
Women, or rather relationships with women, form a large portion of the dramatic tension in the book. Anansi is an inveterate womanizer, and as is his other son, Spider. Charlie is the polar opposite of these two characters; he is monogamous and respects women to the point of being henpecked. Their relationships with women also serve as primary plot drivers in the novel as things only truly get exciting once Spider makes the mistake of falling in love with Rosie, Charlie’s fiancé. Charlie on the other hand, finds that he is more than just a boring accountant when he falls in love with Daisy, a courageous police officer. He discovers through his love for her that he is capable of heroism and surprising talent.
