Symbol of the oxen
The oxen in one of the stories told by the narrator are symbols of Lester himself, and serve to reveal his character. In the story, the oxen are pushed by their owner to move when they do not want to, and they eventually turn on the owner. This is symbolic of the first scene in the novel, when Lester’s home is being auctioned off against his will. He pushes back against the auctioneer before being physically forced to stand down. The oxen turning on their owner is symbolic of Lester eventually turning against the community.
Motif of isolation
One of the main motifs of this novel is that of isolation. Lester is isolated throughout the book, whether by choice or by the community forcing him out. This isolation continued throughout his entire life, with first his mother abandoning him and his father committing suicide, then with his inability to form normal social bonds with the community. This motif of isolation creates the conflict of Lester vs. society.
Symbol of the stuffed animals
The stuffed animals, two bears and a tiger, that Lester wins at the carnival in a shooting game are symbolic of the human relationships that he so desperately desires. The entire book describes Lester’s attempts to have relationships with women, and subsequent rejection by these women. He eventually turns to necrophilia. The animals that he wins and bring back from the fair to keep in his cabin are symbolic of him replacing traditional relationships with his relationships involving the nonliving. The stuffed animals represent the dead women that he brings to his cave because of his desperation for companionship.
Gothic motif
One motif used in this text is that of gothic details. There are recurrent images of dark and haunted settings, especially when describing Lester’s cabin and the cave. The dogs that attack Lester are described as ghastly and white in the dark night, and Lester’s own voice in the black cave is heard as an ethereal echo. The dark and supernatural are examples of gothic motifs that contribute to the mood of the narrative.
Motif of sexual deviancy
The motif of sexual deviancy has a heavy impact on the second and third parts of the book. Lester’s failed attempts to be with women are documented, and the height of his decline into depravity is reached when he begins killing women and engaging in necrophilia to attain this sexual intimacy. This extreme sexual deviancy highlights Lester’s great immorality, and makes the idea that he is a “child of God much like yourself” even more shocking.
