Newt's Suitcase

Throughout the narrative, Newt's suitcase represents and manifests important aspects of his character and his purpose - or rather, the magically defined contents of his suitcase manifest those things. Specifically, the beast sanctuary that Newt and other characters access by magically entering the suitcase embodies Newt's thematically central devotion to protecting the vulnerable, and similarly central determination to live according to his own sense of identity and purpose.

The Beasts

The various beasts that appear throughout the narrative can be seen as embodiments of two of the book's key thematic centerpieces. They are, in many ways a combination, of "the other" (which is set up by the narrative as something to be feared and defended against) and the vulnerable (set up by the narrative to be something to be protected). A character's attitude towards any of the beasts (including the violent Obscurus) can be seen...