Cranes (Symbol)
Cranes are a prominent symbol throughout the novel. Powers describes these birds in multiple lyrical passages as wise and ancient, caught up in biological cycles that predate human life. In a passage about crane myths, the book portrays them as being more in tune with the world than humans, capable of communicating with one another in a direct manner. Unlike the other characters in the novel (save for Mark’s dog, Blackie) the cranes are incapable of being deceitful or false. In this way, they represent the wisdom and power of nature.
Trucks (Symbol)
Trucks function as a symbol of masculinity in the novel. Mark’s greatest source of pride is his red pickup truck; he feels that it validates his sense of toughness and allows him to fit in with his friends Duane and Tommy. The three of them, it is later revealed, drag race dangerously with these trucks. In an unfortunate turn of events, it is the size of Mark’s truck that contributes significantly to the harm to Mark’s body in the accident. While it makes him feel more macho, it is ultimately a danger to his safety, not unlike his friendship with Mark and Tommy, both of whom ultimately abandon him.
Kearney, Nebraska (Symbol)
Kearney works as a symbol for Karin’s past in the novel. She hates the town and refers to it mockingly as “Prairie World,” as she believes it is a kitschy representation of the Midwest. In reality, she dislikes the town because it represents her unhappy childhood and shattered love affairs. Every street corner holds some painful memory of her past and as the novel progresses, she feels increasingly uncertain that anything, or anyone, really changes there.
Weber's Book (Symbol)
Weber's latest book, The Country of Surprise, receives a series of negative reviews, including a prominent one in The New Yorker. His professional life appears to go into a tailspin, as his opportunities dwindle and even the college students in his class view him with contempt and amusement. In this way, the book represents the decline of his career.
Imposters (Motif)
The motif of imposters appears throughout the novel. Mark accuses Karin, and his dog, of being imposters. Weber feels like an imposter while working on Mark’s case. Barbara ultimately reveals that she is an imposter nurse’s aide and was actually a former journalist who caused Mark’s accident. The idea of imposters permeates the novel, as Powers explores the way in which many people are not really who they claim to be.
