Lamp and Lantern (Symbols)
The lamp that Ellen lights at noon serves as the story's central symbol. Representing Ellen’s ability to see clearly the truth of the situation on the farm amidst so much obscuring darkness, the lamp symbolizes the insight—that their future on the farm is doomed—that she attempts to share with Paul. However, Paul's delusion leads him to privilege his own vision over hers. In his shed, he sits by the light of his lantern and convinces himself that a bright future lies ahead.
Wind (Motif)
The constant, howling wind in "The Lamp at Noon" creates an inhospitable physical environment that isolates the characters from each other. By kicking up violent dust storms, the wind traps Ellen in the house, while giving Paul an excuse to be alone with his animals. It is only once the wind disappears that the couple finally comes together. Though they are no longer physically isolated, the consequences of the windstorm have guaranteed that their perceptions of reality are still disparate.
Dust (Symbol)
Beyond the physical threat it presents, the dust in "The Lamp at Noon" serves as a symbol that has different meanings for each of the story's two protagonists. For Ellen, the dust symbolizes the hopeless circumstances that await the couple; to Paul, the dust insulates him from the reality of their situation and allows him to be optimistic. In her attempt to escape the way Paul's delusion has caged her in the house, Ellen ultimately can not overcome the dust, which, with a combination of her tight clutch, chokes their son.
