Pecans

Pecans are a kind of edible nut grown on trees. They are collected in great numbers in sacks by Eddie as he rides around town on his bike. The sacks of pecans lead to Eddie’s being nicknamed “The Pecan Man”. Ora stresses in the novel that the name is to be pronounced “pee-can”, the way Southerners do.

Pecan trees

Pecan trees line Main Street in Mayville, Florida. They are a distinguishing characteristic of the town. Their bounty of pecans is collected by Eddie as he rides around town on his bike. The trees’ pecans earn Eddie the moniker, “The Pecan Man”.

Bicycles

Bicycles are purchased in the novel by Ora for Blanche’s children. The bikes come to be seen as symbolic of the loss of Marcus, who originally intended to purchase bicycles for his siblings with his Army paycheck. Though Blanche is thankful for...