The Summer of the Swans

The swans who visit the lake by the Godfrey home are mute and function as a collective symbol for the family—Sara and Charlie in particular. Despite their name, they’re not entirely mute; they’re dubbed as such due to being comparatively less vocal than other swans. Charlie is nonverbal, but when necessity dictates, he can vocalize as demonstrated during his and Sara’s reunion at the ravine. Swans function in close familial units; Sara and Charlie are impressed by this fact, the flock’s synchrony, when they visit the lake. The swans float together, maneuvering as one without any need to communicate, their bond instinctual. Sara and Charlie’s relationship is marked by a similar attachment as well as the former’s instinct in anticipating the latter’s needs. Like the flock, Aunt Willie, Wanda, and Sara are a tight-knit unit committed to Charlie’s wellbeing. Though the swans originally hail from Wanda’s university, they appear at the lake and take their leave without explanation or warning. Sara and Charlie both experience an instinctual drive to part from home and undertake their own journeys—but like the swans, they ultimately long for the safety and comfort of said home. In contrast, Wanda spends more and more time outside the house.