Bootleg Whiskey

Bootleg whiskey symbolizes tensions between local interests and governmental pressures. The novel depicts the prevalence of bootleg whiskey operations in the early 1950s. These operations are defined by the fact that they occur outside of government taxes and regulations. These operations form the basis of significant conflicts between local and federal interests.

Maybelline Car

Rory’s car, which he named Maybelline after his grandmother, symbolizes his desire for freedom and security. Rory’s mobility is impaired by his prosthetic leg, but his car grants him a large degree of freedom in his ability to move long distances and engage in the whiskey trade. Moreover, he has named his car after his grandmother, thereby emphasizing the importance of that loving familial connection in his life.

Prosthetic Leg

Rory’s prosthetic leg symbolizes the trauma of war. Rory served as a Marine in the Korean War, and...