Music (Motif)
Throughout the play, Gar listens to records in his room as a way of calming down and giving himself some pleasure during a stressful time. His love of music contrasts with his father's silence and the dutiful, straightforward stoicism of his household. Indeed, his father even references the fact that Gar is always listening to records when he plays chess with his friend Canon. Gar's love of music and his desire for nonessential pleasures is something that differentiates him from his more pragmatic and serious father.
The Blue Boat (Symbol)
Gar has a memory of being a child and going out fishing in a blue boat with his father. It is one of his happiest memories with his father, and he desperately wants to share it with S.B. and see if S.B. remembers it as fondly as he does. The blue boat of Gar's memory becomes a symbol of happiness he felt in childhood and his hope that S.B. will remember it similarly holds the symbolic promise of connecting father and son in a reparative and healing way before Gar goes on his journey to America. When S.B.'s memory diverges from Gar's, Gar is completely deflated and discouraged. At this point, the blue boat becomes symbolic of the ways that Gar and S.B. cannot seem to connect, their inability to share things or enjoy one another.
Ned's Belt (Symbol)
After a boisterous and disappointing goodbye gathering, Gar's friend Ned gives him a belt and tells him that he should use it to defend himself against any rowdy Americans. While the moment is awkward and unwieldy, the offering of the belt symbolizes Ned's affection for his friend, and his desire to make their goodbye more meaningful. Additionally, the fact that Ned offers him his belt for protection symbolizes Ned's preoccupation with the performance of aggressive masculinity and sexuality. A belt is a symbol of male sexuality, and it is also a symbol of aggression and violence.
Money for Booze (Symbol)
At the end of his visit, Master Boyle asks Gar for some money to go buy some booze at the bar. After Boyle has been so forthcoming and emotional, this favor is a bittersweet moment, a symbol of the ways that Ireland has let Gar down. Even the people who are most supportive of him and have shown him the most love still want something from him. Boyle's melancholic alcohol dependency can be interpreted as a kind of symbol for Irish sentimentalism and self-destruction, the kind of attitudes that Gar is trying to escape.
"Screwballs" (Motif)
Throughout the play, Gar privately calls his father "Screwballs." This is a teasing and joking reference to the fact that S.B. is anything but goofy. The motivic joke refers to the fact that S.B. hardly ever cracks a smile or says a word.
