The Worms

The worms symbolize fear, danger, and disease. The true nature of what the characters are referring to when they mention the worms is never revealed, but from the progression of the novel, one can conclude that the worms represent the disease which plagues Amanda, David, and Nina. The purpose of David and Amanda’s conversation throughout the novel is to discover when the worms first appeared, and Amanda goes on to describe events which led to her becoming sick, so the worms represent the sickness.

David

David is a physical representation of the disease that plagues the town in this novel. Animals that approach David instantly die, and David buries them shortly after. Just like a disease, anything that comes near David becomes infected.

Nina

Nina is a representation of Carla’s longing for the return of David’s soul. When Carla is sitting in...