Gossamer

Toby symbolizes love because of the affection he gives and receives. The narrator describes him as a “scruffy mongrel” with “mottled fur and ragged ears” (75). Initially, John is unkind toward the dog, kicking him and withholding treats from him in a misguided attempt to gain a feeling of power and control. His relationship with Toby shifts due to the revelation that, like him, the dog was abused when he was very young: “I found him on my porch, freezing, one winter morning. He was just a puppy that someone had mistreated and then abandoned” (75). Despite this mistreatment, Toby is a consistently gentle presence throughout the book who offers affection to the woman and the boy. John finds it easier to show and receive love from a dog rather than a human because he expects people to betray and abandon him, and the bond he forges with Toby highlights The Role of Empathy and Compassion in Addressing Trauma.

During the novel’s climax, Littlest One takes care to include Toby in the dreams she gives John to fortify him against the Horde’s approach: “The dog was so important! She gathered the feel of silky warm fur under his collar, around his neck, behind his ears, the places that the boy liked to scratch” (113). The dream-giver’s work highlights Toby’s importance to John and his significance as a symbol. When Toby appears in John’s unconscious mind, his presence turns the traumatic nightmare into an empowering dream: “[T]here was Toby, scarfing [the dog food] down! How funny that was! The woman saw that and laughed with him, and the man was angry, but the laughter took his power away altogether” (121). Toby brings laughter to a memory that used to terrify the boy, which reinforces the power of compassion in addressing trauma. As a symbol of love, Toby plays an essential role in John’s healing process.

Seashells represent the relationship between John and his mother. The symbol first appears in Chapter 9 when Strapping notes that “a broken seashell on a shelf” is one of the few objects that contains pleasant memories in the young woman’s apartment (38). Similarly, John’s most prized possession is “a delicate pink seashell” that he keeps on his bedside table (58). The boy and his mother collected the shells during a beautiful day at the beach together. Like the shells themselves, John’s relationship with his mother is fragile and damaged yet cherished. Pink is often considered a feminine color, which adds to the shell’s association with John’s mother.

The shells’ frequent appearances throughout the story signify how John and his mother are constantly in one another’s thoughts during their separation. The two characters draw comfort from the shells through dreams and bedtime stories. The symbol reminds them of a rare blissful memory in their difficult lives and an opportunity to bond without Duane’s threatening presence. However, the seashells symbolize not only one day in their past but also their hope for their future together. In Chapter 27, John decides to bring his seashell to school and place it on his mother’s desk: “Then we’d both have good luck!” (131). The boy’s desire to share the shell and its luck with his mother shows his great interest in reconnecting with her and his newfound optimism about their future together. Additionally, it’s significant that John brings his seashell to school because this is the setting where he and his mother will reconnect and rebuild their relationship.