Opioids (Symbol)
Opioids function as a symbol of generational devastation. Halfway through the book, Demon becomes addicted to painkillers and watches as everyone around him becomes similarly dependent. June asks if Emmy is also using drugs and he says he doesn't know a single person who isn't on something. Later, June emphasizes to him that this was a crisis engineered by pharmaceutical companies to make a profit. She tells him that it will likely take a generation, at least, to heal from the damage done by opioids. In this way, opioids symbolize the damage done to Demon's community.
Visual Art (Symbol)
Visual art is a recurring symbol throughout the book. As Demon grows as an artist, he quickly begins to recognize the possibility that his drawing has the potential to be more than a pastime. He first makes a comic strip about a coal miner named Red Neck who does heroic deeds for impoverished Southerners. Then, influenced by graphic novels, he moves on to depicting scenes from his life with Dori in an online comic. Finally, he discusses writing a history of economic depression in the South with Tommy. As he says late in the book, Demon eventually recognizes that art has the potential to reclaim narratives and push back on stereotypes. In the novel, art symbolizes the power to rewrite prevailing cultural narratives.
Labor (Motif)
Labor is a recurring motif throughout the novel. Demon often observes that he, and the people in his life, have to work incredibly hard at jobs that pay them next to nothing and destroy their bodies. Along with June and Mr. Armstrong, he understands they are playing a game designed for them to lose. He says this about both his mother's job at Wal-Mart and Mr. Peggot's work as a coal miner, noting that both of them have essentially nothing to show, monetarily, for years of work. This motif explores the way that these vulnerable characters are taken advantage of by unfair labor practices.
Ship in a Bottle (Symbol)
At their first Christmas together, Angus gives Demon a ship in the bottle. She says this is representative of both his weathering difficult moments and his longing to finally see the ocean. He is touched by the gesture and holds on to it for years. The ship in the bottle represents his attempts to survive hardship and eventually find a stable place to call home.
The Ocean (Symbol)
Throughout the book, Demon wishes to see the ocean. His two attempts are thwarted early on, as a field trip goes awry when a kid gets sick and, later, Fast Forward loses interest in driving out to the coast and cuts the journey short. At the novel's end, Demon finally goes to the ocean with Angus, who tells him it's never too late for him to see it. The ocean symbolizes Demon's search for love and belonging, as it narrowly eludes him repeatedly and he wants it desperately. The fact that he finally reaches it with Angus highlights the strength and meaningfulness of their bond, as she is the person who finally makes him feel loved.
