Symbol: Edward
Edward is a vital part of the narrative, serving as a catalyst for Macon to meet Muriel through the regular dog training sessions. The disruptive behavior of Edward symbolizes the repressed animal nature of Macon, who constantly tries to push down his emotions in order to feel in control.
The aggression of Edward peaks when Macon is at his lowest point. When Macon is at the top of a very tall building for a work assignment, he goes into a panic and calls his brother for help. Charles informs Macon that Edward has been acting out and has cornered him in the pantry. At this moment, Macon realizes that both his fears and Edward's unruliness are no longer acceptable. By allowing Muriel to help to train him, Macon is also accepting the need to get his life back into order.
Edward was also Ethan's dog, so Macon's commitment to training the dog—rather than giving him away, as his siblings suggest—is a way for Macon to stay connected to his deceased son, honoring his memory.
Motif: Macon's book
Macon frequently refers to a 1,000-page book, Miss Macintosh, which he brings along with him on all of his work trips. He regards the book as boring and much too long, and he does not actually read the story. He more uses the book as a way to avoid any conversation with those seated next to him on trains or planes. In this sense, the motif is an extension of Macon and his habit of hiding from the world and any potential intimacy with others.
Motif: Telephone
The telephone is frequently ringing throughout The Accidental Tourist. In one instance, Macon dreams that he receives a phone call from Ethan and wakes up to realize it is actually Julian checking up on him. After Macon breaks his leg and moves in with his family, the Leary siblings leave the phone off the hook to avoid any unwanted social contact. Macon and Sarah resume their relationship after they have a string of phone conversations while he is on a business trip. In this way, the phone is a representation of both the characters' desire to connect with one another and their fear of real, honest communication.
Symbol: Airplanes
Macon spends more hours on airplanes than the average person. This is because it is his profession to travel to foreign cities and write travel guides for people who hate traveling. Macon, too, is one of those who dislike leaving their familiar terrain. There are many scenes in the novel where Macon is seen on an airplane, often seated next to an odd character who pokes and prods Macon out of his bubble. Plane rides thus symbolize the opportunities life gives Macon to get out of his comfort zone and get a new perspective, where he literally flies above his problems and into the unknown. In one scene where Macon flies with Muriel, he looks down at the landscape below him and the many houses, having the sensation of the myriad lives that exist apart from his own. This wider viewpoint proves to be therapeutic to Macon, who often struggles with his daily routine.
Symbol: Muriel's childhood photo
After Christmas dinner when Macon has met Muriel's parents for the first time, she gifts him an old photograph of herself as a young girl. Macon is appreciative not so much of her cuteness, but rather of what he perceives as her determined nature shining through her expression. Muriel has given Macon this photo as a gesture of trust and openness in what is still the early stages of their relationship. Because it pictures her as a child, the photograph also symbolizes the sweetness and innocence that has been sorely lacking in Macon's life since the death of his son and the separation from Sarah. This is why Macon becomes so touched by the gift, and this moment marks when he starts to fall in love with Muriel even more.
