The symbol of demos
The author has used "demos" to refer to demonstrators who are advocating for change in Prague. The Forum is the one leading the demonstrators to demand change. For instance, the author writes:
“The demos spoke, in demos, and declared the forum to be its mouthpiece”
The reader can easily interpret that the demos refer to people taking part in the demonstrations demanding better leadership and governance.
The allegory of political animals
Political animals are used symbolically to mean inhumane, corrupt and unfit politicians. Politicians are supposed to be people’s servants but not animals. Therefore, the author has used political animals to help the reader understand how politicians put their interests first instead of those they are leading. They write:
“All women and men may be political animals, but some are more political than others”
The symbol of the;four-day-old baby'
The 'four-year-old baby' has been symbolically used to refer to the club of individuals who have come together with one primary goal, removing wrong governance. They are tasked with the responsibility of organizing the revolution. Students back them up across the country, also demanding better governance. Havel leads this club of individuals. The author writes:
“The four-day-old baby’, as Havel calls it, is, at first glance, rather like a club. Individual membership is acquired by personal recommendation.”
The white helmets and red berets
The author uses white helmets and the red berets to refer to the anti-riot police and the Special Forces that are tasked with the responsibility of managing riots. He writes:
“And neither the white helmets nor the red berets moved in”
The crowd that has swarmed the Wenceslas Square to demand the removal of the current government regime is too big to control. The crowd is chanting "Freedom', 'Resign' and 'Act now', slogans. The anti-riot police are too late to control the crowd.
The symbol of the smiling cat and green frog
The author has used the smiling cat and the green frog to symbolize the objectives of the Civic Forum Building that are meant to be discussed in the Magic Lantern Theatre. Among the invitees is Timothy Garton Ash, among others.
