Images of Compassion
The book is replete with images of Sam helping the swans. Unlike Nils and other characters from children fiction books, Sam was a very kind and sympathetic boy. He helps cob and pen and saves their lives from a hungry fox. Then he assists the younger cygnet Louis in reading and writing. The author has demonstrated how Sam helps Louis in every troublesome situation which he encounters. He admits him in a school and gives a chalkboard along with a chalk as a gift for his studies. Sam also helps him in getting the job to pay for the trumpet and the broken window.
Sam has also been depicted as offering his services for splitting Louis's feet for converting into digits.Louis learns playing various instruments because of his digits and gets a medal as well for saving the camper's life. Sam also comes to aid Louis when the zoo keepers try to clip Louis's beloved's feet. Louis sends him a telegram and Sam reaches in Boston for him. He convinces the head of the zoo and stops then from confining Serena to the zoo. There are several images which demonstrate a human as helping the swans through various means. Sam doesn't tell people that they are living in the pond and hides them from others for their safety.
Images of struggling
The author has portrayed Louis as struggling for his life and his disability. He was born mute but he becomes an inspiration for others. He strives to woo his beloved by learning various skills and by composing a song for her. He learns to read and write and gets his feet clipped for using them as digits. He does various jobs at campsite and then at a night club to earn money for the trumpet. He has been depicted as an honest swan who struggles to pay for the trumpet which his father stole from a shopkeeper. Although Sam was always there for his assistance, but he also doesn't give up and continues his journey of relentless struggle.
Imagery of Fatherhood
Louis's father Cob has been shown as playing the role of a sympathetic and loving father. He becomes worried about the youngest cygnet, Louis who was born mute. He tries hard to get Louis's voice and then he steals a trumpet for him by risking his own life. When Louise earns money for paying the price of trumpet and an apology letter for the shopkeeper, Cob again flies to return the money. He goes there by putting his life on stakes and gets injured because of being attacked by the shopkeeper and other men. Cob survives the injury and gets his son out of the guilt of theft. There are images of Cob saving his family from animals and taking great care of the cygnets especially Louis.
Images of love
Louis loves Serena but she doesn't give any response because Louis was mute. He was unable to convey his feelings. There are images of Louis showing his live for Serena. He composes a song for her and asks for Sam's help to save her from the zoo authorities. Louis fights with the zoo keepers who try to pinion Serena. He sings the song for her in his trumpet and express his feelings for Serena.
The author has demonstrated that after paying the debts, he flies away to start a family with his beloved. The images of love has also been presented in Cob and Pen. Louis's parents also love each other and stand for each other's support.
