Superheros (Motif)
The motif of the superhero first comes up when Lewis is describing the character of Steve Eisman. Lewis explains that Eisman was interested in superhero stories. He was especially invested in the story of Spider-Man, with whom he believed he had a number of parallels; for example, the high school they had attended, when they had gotten married, etc. It becomes an important motif throughout the book, as Eisman becomes one of very few people who recognize the corruption and disaster imminent on Wall Street before anyone else does. In some ways, these people can be seen as "superheroes" because they know things that ordinary people don't, and thus have a kind of "superpower." But in other ways they fall short of the expectations we have for superheroes, because they do not manage to step in and stop the disaster.
Outsider (Symbol)
The outsider becomes a prominent symbol throughout the text. It is generally used to encapsulate the position of people like Steve Eisman and Michael Burry, who are on the outskirts of what is acceptable on Wall Street. They have quirky personalities that force them to observe the main action on Wall Street from the sidelines. But, at the same time, this outsider position gives them a perspective that people more central to Wall Street do not have, and allows them to predict the disaster before anyone else does. The "outsider" is also a symbol for how Wall Street interacts with the rest of America; given how insulated and hierarchical Wall Street is, almost everyone in America who is not directly a part of it can be considered an "outsider." As such, they have morals and perspectives that people on Wall Street do not share, but they lack the power to intervene directly in the system.
Shooting Range (Symbol)
At one point, in the early years of Cornwall Capital, Charlie Ledley joins some Wall Street insiders at a shooting range. They have gone there for a day out, but also, presumably, to talk business. While there, Ledley is appalled by the macho culture he observes, and the ruthlessness with which these people enjoy shooting at targets like black men and Muslims. He is also surprised that they mostly took him there as an excuse for them to go shooting, as opposed to a real business meeting. The shooting range thus becomes a symbol for the immorality, aggression, and the leisure-loving culture on Wall Street.
