Castle

The castle is the home of the Mortmain family, and they have leased it for 40 years. It symbolizes the method by which the family has insulated itself from the world patterning after Mr. Mortmain's reclusive behavior. While the castle is intriguing and interesting, it is also cold and dark, making the family uncomfortable in their attempts to live ostracized from society.

"Jacob Wrestling"

Mr. Mortmain's book, "Jacob Wrestling," is taken from the passage in the Bible with Jacob wrestling with the angel. This is a relatively well known passage in which a man, Jacob, wrestles with an angel which could be God. This symbolizes man's struggle to do what is right and what is expected of him. Conversely, Mr. Mortmain lives outside the account as he essentially abandons his family by not writing and earning a living, something that is expected of the head of a...