Old Bible

The old Bible is a symbol of the power of religion and Gary’s changing attitude toward the power of God in the story “Man in the Black Suit.” When Gary’s father makes him go back to the place where he encountered the Devil, Gary takes his family’s Bible with him as a form of protection. As an old man, Gary does not believe that God had any role in protecting him on that day. He thinks his ability to survive his encounter with the Devil was pure luck. Because he is not physically able to outrun the Devil anymore, Gary worries what might happen if he encounters him again.

The Farmhouse

The farmhouse is a symbol of the ideal life in the story “All That You Love Will Be Carried Away.” Alfie looks across the field at this house and he imagines...