The Mayoral Palace Symbol
Lanser believes that the Palace is a symbol of the Mayor himself, and by association, his authority and his power. Because this symbol is so strong in his mind, he wants the invaders to take over the palace and give the impression to the townspeople that everyone is working together, which in turn should make them less apt to resist orders.
Torn Upholstery Symbol
Doctor Winter notices that one of the drawing-room chairs has a rip in the upholstery. Before the invaders took over the palace it was meticulously cared for and all the chairs were perfect. What was once a beautiful and complete set of furniture in pristine condition has become worn, and is showing signs of fatigue and lack of caring. This is a symbol of the effect that Lanser and his troops have on the town and how what was once thriving, well-tended and taken care of is now run down and tired.
Palace Symbol
To Lanser the palace is a symbol of successful authority; it is actually a symbol of the power of democracy and the authority of the people. Lanser believes that the Mayor has great authority of the people and successfully commands them but the Mayor believes he is there to serve the people, and he lets his commands and decisions be informed and influenced by what his constituents think. Because of this, Lanser is mistaken; the palace actually symbolizes the power of democracy rather than the power of any one man or group of men.
World War II Allegory
In the novella itself, the country that has been occupied by an invading army is never actually specified; neither is the aggressor country, or the conflict itself. However, it is mentioned that the aggressors are at war with England and France, and that they are crossing Northern Europe and occupying each country in their campaign's path. For this reason it is widely believed that the story is an allegory of World War II, that the country that has been invaded and occupied is Norway and that the invaders are the Germans, avariciously empire building across Northern Europe. Backing up this claim is the then King of Norway himself, who not only gave Steinbeck an award for the story but who also went to watch the stage adaptation of the play in London.
The Leader Allegory
The Leader is an allegory of Adolf Hitler; translated literally, "Fuhrer", which is the name the German dictator was known by in Germany, means "Leader", and so by giving him this moniker Steinbeck is hinting as to the identity of both the leader of the invading nation and also the identity of the nation itself. The invaders also seem to both revere and fear The Leader, another allegorical nod towards Hitler. They take everything that he says literally without question and he seems to rule with the aid of a great deal of propaganda.
