The Memory Keeper
“The Memory Keeper” is the name given to a camera which Norah has gifted to David. Norah sees the camera for is intended use: creating and maintaining memories of a moment in time. David, however, uses the abilities of darkroom management after the shutter has snapped to manipulate the memories of that frozen moment or even destroy them entirely.
Snow
The story begins in a freak snowstorm in Lexington, KY, a city not exactly in competition with Buffalo for snow capital of the country. That unexpected and unusually heavy snowfall is the impetus creates the circumstance allowing David to give his daughter away and lie about her survival to his wife. But the snow will melt and expose what lies hidden beneath it eventually. Thus, snow becomes a symbol both for how fate intervened to assist David’s deceptions and for how his secrets and lies will eventually be exposed.
Bee Allergy
Both twins—Paul and Phoebe—inherit David’s allergic reaction to bee stings. Both twins get stung when they are young. Because David is experienced and knows of the allergy, the reaction is swift and without drama. Phoebe’s reaction is just the opposite, filled with the drama of discovery, the race to the doctor, the anxiety and fear of the potential consequences of not receiving treatment in time and an especially idiotic nurse. The difference in the incidents become symbolic the way that special needs and underprivileged children are treated relative to “normal” kids.
The Electrolux
The Electrolux vacuum is symbolic of the transformation of Norah from her unfulfilling role as a “Suzy Homemaker” into a successful owner of a travel agent. “Pushing a vacuum cleaner” is a phrase which haunts her in that role as unhappy domestic agent of the home. The Electrolux will eventually literally blow up when used as a weapon of destruction against the threat of wasps and Norah’s actual crushing of it beneath her feet corresponds with the moment she decides to pursue a career as a travel agent.
Rosemary’s Scissors
The glinting scissors which unwed teenage mother-to-be Rosemary uses like an artist to cut ornate designs out of simple sheets of paper take on a much more profoundly symbolic role as the blades that cut David free as he for the first time shares with another person all the secrets of his life that he has kept hidden inside since Norah’s delivery of the twins.
