Piano

Both Ryan’s mother’s piano and the ability to play piano symbolize Ryan’s youth and boyhood. When he loses his mother’s piano and then decides that playing piano is too contrary to his drug dealing, Ryan becomes aware of losing who he once was.

Holy Stone

Maureen’s Holy Stone represents the particularly Irish type of Catholicism: kitschy and mass-produced, yet capable of great violence. Although the Irish are not as pious as they were decades before, as Maureen realizes, many still keep these sorts of objects in their homes.

Scapular

Georgie’s scapular represents connections between people and the possibility for redemption. At first, the scapular reminds Georgie of her mother and she dares it to save her from prostitution. After finding the scapular again after Robbie’s death, Georgie holds onto it as a reminder of Robbie and her daughter. By...