Broken Compass
The broken compass is a representation of the current state of the world: a world where man is no longer on top of the food chain and the old, established norms no longer hold true. Even the theft of the compass is an act that is out of synch with Dr. Kieran’s character; an indication that he is no longer the rational scientist he once was. The compass itself is strange as it points south rather than pointing north as a standard compass ought to. This malfunction serves to mirror Dr. Kieran’s inexplicable desire to head south as well and serves as a visual metaphor for doing away with old, established ways of doing things.
Planetarium
The submerged planetarium is a remnant of the past. It is an icon of a past where humanity was at the apex and conventional thinking made sense. Underwater, the planetarium is a symbol of potential and the possibility of the reemergence of humanity from the tropical hell it is currently in as it holds many mysteries kept away in waterlogged nooks and crannies. When the lagoon is drained however, hopes of finding anything useful that might restore man to his supremacy also drains away as well. The planetarium reveals itself to be nothing more than a ruined edifice filled with mud, scum, and memories of man’s heyday.
Strangeman
The appropriately named Strangeman is both a character and a symbol of ruthless human ambition and lust for power. Even in a world where the humanity has been reduced to just another menu item for the reptilian predators living in the sunken cities he tenaciously hangs on to power by circulating a legend about himself: that he is undead and effectively immortal and that he has power over the crocodiles that follow his plane around. Using this myth and a combination of good old-fashioned theatrics he is able to amass a cult following of superstitious African men who obey his every whim. He is also the representation of people that cleave to the past in the hopes that mankind would eventually return to it “rightful place” as apex organism of earth.
Beatrice Dahl
In a similar fashion Beatrice Dahl is also both a character and a symbol. Her obsession with maintaining her appearance, lackadaisical lifestyle, and her love for the jewels and other luxury items given by Strangeman are symbolic of not just of her incapability to accept the fact that human civilization, as she knows it, is dead but in behaving in this manner she therefore becomes the manifestation of greed, consumerist tendencies, and capitalism taken to it’s ridiculous extreme.
North/South
The two polar ends of the earth become more than just primary directions on the new Earth; the two poles become symbolic of the two major desires of the surviving pockets of humanity. One these desires are to drain out the swamps and lagoons, kill the giant reptiles, and reclaim the earth for mankind. On the extreme opposite of this sentiment is the idea of surrendering to growing, ever-increasing crescendo of primal urges--to just give in to the sweeping wave of devolution and embrace the idea that mankind, as a species, must step down from its throne.
