American Pop Culture (Motif)
Throughout the text, characters reference elements of American pop culture, contrasting Romania's scarcity and oppression with the West's individualism and excess. Cristian and Lilanna romanticize and idealize the United States, noting how characters in American films like Die Hard can make personal choices and enjoy an abundance of food, freedom of movement, and expression. American pop culture is also used to draw divides between characters experiencing privilege and those experiencing poverty and oppression, as Western media and products are outlawed under Ceaușescu. Dan Van Dorn, an American diplomat's son, unapologetically decorates his room with posters of the Dallas Cowboys and the singer Bon Jovi. Cristian also sees the motif of American pop culture demonstrated insidiously when he finds photographs of Ceaușescu and his family posing with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. In these photos, Cristian sees the hypocrisy of Ceaușescu engaging with pop culture symbols of joy and excess while depriving the Romanian people of access to these media.
Travelogue Excerpts (Motif)
Cristian, his friends, and family frequently wonder if the West ignores Romania because they are ignorant of the human rights abuses Ceaușescu's regime commits against citizens. Cristian often references excerpts from a travelogue about Eastern Europe that warns tourists to stay away from Romania, as the nation is impoverished, oppressed, and dangerous for travelers. Cristian experiences a mix of shame and anger reading these statements, as he dislikes hearing his country criticized by non-Romanians who have the freedom to leave. However, he is also indignant that foreign nations have access to facts about the conditions in Romania and choose not to intervene. Cristian's personal writings contrast with this motif, as the travelogue records objective observations, like the length of the food lines, while Cristian expresses his individual feelings and experiences about those observations.
Feral Dogs (Symbol)
In Cristian's neighborhood, stray, starving dogs often attack people, including children. When Cristian is arrested, the soldiers attempt to sic dogs on him as a torture method. However, Cristian recognizes that these dogs are abused and starved and thus act violently to ensure their own survival. Therefore, feral dogs symbolize the dehumanizing effects of political oppression. Just as the dogs attack humans for survival, Cristian and his fellow Romanians inform on their friends, family, and neighbors to obtain basic necessities from the Secu or protect themselves and their loved ones from additional abuse.
Securiate Reports (Motif)
As an informer, Cristian attempts to undermine the Secu and manipulate his interactions with Agent Paddle Hands. He also naively assumes that his interactions with his family members and Liliana are private. The Securiate reports included throughout the text are used as a form of dramatic irony and to create a sense of tension. These reports, rendered in a typewriter font and following an official-looking template, contain information about Cristian, his family, and friends that Cristian does not know. The reports are often included immediately after scenes of Cristian's meeting with Agent Paddle Hands or Liliana, contradicting Cristian's conclusions about these interactions.
Darkness (Symbol)
In Bucharest, Cristian and his neighbors experience darkness in several forms. Most obvious is physical darkness, as electricity is strictly controlled and unreliable. This darkness creates a pervasive sense of fear, as characters suspect danger lurking in the shadows. Darkness symbolizes ignorance, as the Romanian people are isolated from the outside world, their own history, and the truth about their relationships. As the introductory poem "Beneath the Gilded Frame" asserts, the Romanian people under Ceaușescu "lived in darkness. Breathing shadows."
Darkness briefly takes on a positive connotation when Cristian and Liliana share a private moment. Cristian is thankful for the "private wrapper of darkness" that allows them to speak freely and authentically. This darkness symbolizes the beneficial side of ignorance, as Cristian enjoys teenage innocence in his relationship with Liliana, allowing himself not to question her motivations.
