The Waterfall

The waterfall symbolizes Harper being at the mercy of forces beyond his control. Just as he could not do anything to help Bud at the waterfall, Harper finds himself at the mercy of his job with the Institute. He follows through on delivering a list that he knows will result in the deaths of others. When he makes the decision to kill Komang’s wife, he finds himself in an impossible position where he reacts in the moment with the men coming for them.

Rain

Rain is symbolic of relief for Harper. When he is in the hut, he listens for sounds to indicate that someone is coming for him. Harper begins the novel in a state of unrest listening in the hut. As the novel concludes, the last sound he hears is rain pattering before he falls back to sleep. The rain is able...