Ink

In the novel, ink possesses a variety of meanings pertaining to specific characters. For Ester, ink represents the freedom to write; intelligence and intellectualism; the power she feels through recording her thoughts; finding meaning between lines of text; and the significance and meaning associated with written words. For Ester and the rabbi, ink symbolizes a sense of community; that which pertains to sharing philosophical thought and religious teachings, respectively. Helen’s memories of taking notes on the Jewish History book Dror further develop ink as a symbol; it represents the pain and sufferings of the Jews recorded throughout history. For both Helen and Aaron, the ink used in certain historical documents results in the irreversible destruction of paper; symbolizing the loss of historical information due to the passing of time.

Fire

Fire represents a variety of elements in the novel and takes on different meanings in...