Egypt (Symbol)
In The Tale of Sinuhe, Egypt represents an ideal society. Although he flees his good life in Egypt without a logical reason and becomes wealthy and powerful while away, Sinuhe never stops longing to return to the society from which he came. For Sinuhe, it only makes sense that Egypt is the place where he should be buried. However, to receive this honor requires further intervention from God. Luckily, Sinuhe's wish is answered when the king invites him back to die a hero in Egypt. Like Sinuhe, the king believes it is only right that Sinuhe should receive the honor of resting in the place he was born. In this way, Sinuhe never loses his identity as an Egyptian despite spending most of his life in self-imposed exile.
The Challenge (Symbol)
In the middle of the tale, Sinuhe receives a visit from a warrior who challenges him to a fight—a challenge that symbolizes Sinuhe's humility. Although Sinuhe has no particular desire to see the man as an enemy, he accepts the challenge with the sangfroid attitude of a hero. Honorably, Sinuhe waits for the man to attack first; when the arrows and javelins do nothing to harm him, Sinuhe strikes back with a single arrow in the man's neck before he ends the man's life with a blow from the man's own axe. Throughout the battle, Sinuhe displays none of the vengefulness or insecurity of his challenger. Instead, Sinuhe calmly honors the man's request and humbly assumes his elevated status as the land's most fearsome warrior upon the man's defeat.
Burial Pyramid (Symbol)
The pyramid the king builds as a monument to Sinuhe is a symbol of Sinuhe's rise to greatness. Usually reserved for rulers, the burial tomb is bestowed upon Sinuhe despite his lowly status as a non-royal. Through a blessed life full of divine intervention and enduring loyalty and courage, Sinuhe secures his place in history with a monument to his life. The frame-story of the tale is that it has been carved in the stone walls of his pyramid tomb—an autobiography that ensures Sinuhe's legacy lives on.
