The octopus

The octopus that Ted discovers clinging to Lily’s head is symbolic of undeniable burdens that people (and Lily) carry, is symbolic of Ted refusing to face the truth, and is symbolic of impending death. Such burdens may include the pain of old age (as in Lily’s case with the tumor), fear of an unknown future, heartbreak from the past, and so on (as in Ted’s case). In reality, the octopus is a tumor that Ted refuses to call a tumor in the hopes that he can avoid the truth about what the tumor could actually mean for Lily. He is in denial and cannot accept the truth. He likens the tumor to an octopus because, like an octopus, the tumor is squeezing the life out of Lily.

Monopoly

Monopoly is the game that Ted and Lily play on Friday nights, and represents...