Select a symbol and examine its function in the novel and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

You might want to touch on the theme of animals for this paragraph, as each of Addie's children uses animals in one way or another to symbolize her after her death. Vardaman see his mother in the fish he caught; he envisions her taking on another state after her death. Darl believes that Jewel’s mother is his horse and a symbol of Jewel's love, whereas Jewel sees the horse as a symbol of freedom.