The reward of faith
Jesus' Cheese symbolizes the rewards of faith for Sister Paul, which she receives because of her outstanding Christian values, such as compassion, humbleness, openhandedness, and truthfulness. Everyone knows Sister Paul, and whenever she learns that her help is required, she quickly offers a helping hand. Due to her great work, Sister Paul receives Jesus' Cheese from well-wishers to motivate her to continue her good work.
The symbolism of escapism
Baseball is a symbol of escapism in the novel. Whenever the boys want to run away from racist remarks and their daily hardships, they go straight to play baseball. For Deems, playing baseball is important because it diverts his attention from drugs. For Sportcoat, playing baseball makes him forget the misery of losing his wife and other challenges, such as raising a blind son. Therefore, baseball is an important symbol that represents distraction.
The artifact
The artifact symbolizes the renewed relationship between Sportcoat, Elefante and the community in the Causeway Projects. After the artifact is found in the Fives Ends Church, Sportcoat confesses his wrongs against Deems. Similarly, Elefante and his criminal gang stop their illegal drug smuggling business. For the first time after several years, the residents of Causeway Projects live in peace without fear of violence and unnecessary killings.
