Elephant

The elephant that lives at Parambil at the novel's start is symbolic of comfort and peace. Although Big Ammachi is disoriented and lonely when she first gets married, the elephant's presence calms her. Throughout the early sections of the novel, the elephant makes consistent appearances to the family whenever they are experiencing hardship, loss, or transition.

Water

Throughout the novel, recurring images of and allusions to water are symbolic of interconnection. In all of the characters' storylines, water has the capacity to both sustain and take away lives. Water is the element that embodies all of human existence and experience, while simultaneously connecting disparate characters and realities one to another.

Family Tree

Big Ammachi's family tree is symbolic of the past. Throughout the novel, Big Ammachi and Mariamma are particularly enamored by the tree. Both women study the tree for answers to their ancestral and historical...