Wooden Box

The wooden box that the truck drivers open at the end of the story Irman is meant to symbolize both the past and knowledge. Although Oliver and the narrator only knew the small man for a short while, they gained this privileged look into the private facets of his life when they stole the wooden box. The box is a symbol for Irman's past, containing photos, letters, poems and a "plastic medal" (72). The wooden box gives the characters a brief look into the background of the small man. Simultaneously, the wooden box acts as a symbol for knowledge and insight, as the two men begin to feel remorse for stealing such a previous valuable. The contents of the box give the two men knowledge and even understanding about Irman. Because of this insight, the narrator suggests that Oliver seemed as though "he really did regret...