Jacy’s Disappearance

Jacy’s disappearance symbolizes the irresolution of one’s past. For over 40 years, Jacy’s disappearance remains a mystery for Lincoln and Teddy. Similarly, they never receive any resolution regarding their romantic feelings towards Jacy. Thus, Jacy’s disappearance fixes Lincoln and Teddy in a state of personal unsettlement and lack of closure.

Lincoln’s Investigation

Lincoln’s investigation into Jacy’s disappearance symbolizes the scrutiny and reevaluation of one’s own youth. When Lincoln decides to investigate Jacy’s disappearance over 40 years after it occurred, he is motivated in part by a desire to make sense of his own youth and personal past. When Lincoln and Teddy finally learn the truth of her disappearance, they feel a sense of closure.

Military Draft

In the novel, the military draft symbolizes the ambiguity of morality. After Mickey is drafted into the Vietnam War, he decides...