Television

Recurring references to and images of the television throughout the short story are symbolic of media and technology. Although the mother and father both enjoy watching television, they do not allow their son to do so. They are attempting to shield him from this form of media in order to control his perception of and engagement with reality. They believe that by limiting his exposure to technology they can protect him from the world beyond his childhood.

Monster

The monster the boy encounters in the show is symbolic of imagination. Although the boy is watching the monster on the in-flight television, the boy perceives the monster to be a sentient creature in his world. His inability to distinguish the monster from reality reveals his innocence and childhood capacity for imagination.

Plane

The plane the family takes to the secondary country is symbolic of escape. The plane...