Mathematics

Mathematics symbolizes both absolute certainty and utter frustration on the part of Grandpa. Grandpa loves mathematics for its precision and logic, because there is always an answer to a problem. As Grandpa struggles with losing his memory, his mathematically-attuned mind struggles with forgetting. For someone so dependent on absolute answers, losing memory is like losing the answers, and becomes utterly frustrating because the answers cannot be found.

Keys

Keys symbolize memories. Each numbered key represents a different memory in Grandpa’s life. The keys, contained in a glass jar, have been dropped and lay beneath the bench. Noah asks Grandpa what losing his memory is like while the two sit together in the square. Grandpa explains it is like losing things in a pocket in that at first, one loses keys, and then one loses people. Losing each key –or each memory –is like losing a...