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What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

Created: 06/10/13

Replies: 9

Posted Jun. 10, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?


Posted Jun. 11, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terrio

Join Date: 08/16/11

Posts: 79

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

I think it symbolizes Maureen attempting to bury her guilt once and for all. With her husband, her daughter, and Noa all dead, there's no one left to remind Maureen that her version of the truth isn't all that truthful.


Posted Jun. 12, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jeffs

Join Date: 06/18/12

Posts: 49

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

I agree with Terrio. Maureen has horrible guilt and is attempting to bury it forever.


Posted Jun. 12, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marymargaretf

Join Date: 09/05/11

Posts: 42

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

I certainly agree with the above two posts and I also feel that it was Marlene's feeble attempt to remove Noa from her life -again. If she had given it to Oliver as requested, the story would continue to be shared and she wouldn't be able to suppress her feelings. But, while she removed Noa's words, she clung to the bracelet.


Posted Jun. 12, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janzr

Join Date: 04/18/11

Posts: 22

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

I think I would have more sympathy for Marlene if I thought she had any "guilt", but I don't think she did. I think she felt she was completely faultless and this made her such an ugly character in the novel.


Posted Jun. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
GinH

Join Date: 06/17/13

Posts: 33

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

Denial. She never wanted to acknowledge any guilt over her actions in her daughter's life.


Posted Jun. 18, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jww

Join Date: 05/31/11

Posts: 166

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

Marlene's guilt caused her to bury the manuscript. She had lived a lie for so long that she could never let the truth emerge. Burying the manuscript served as a symbol of her guilt but it also kept the manuscript from being discovered by anyone else, especially Oliver. Had he received the manuscript, the truth of Marlene's lies and culpability would have been exposed. At the end, I think she was mentally ill and incapable of accepting the truth. Perhaps she always was.


Posted Jun. 18, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mariannes

Join Date: 12/17/12

Posts: 206

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

I think it is symbolic of all the truths that Marlene denied, as others have said. I also thought it was a hateful act from a hateful person.


Posted Jun. 19, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
EmsBooks

Join Date: 02/16/12

Posts: 11

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

I think burying the manuscript is also about control. Marlene tried to control everything and much of the book is about her struggling to manage events and people whom she discovers she cannot control and bully. Even though Noa died, her request to return the bracelet and to pass on the manuscript are her agency after death. Marlene is unwilling to allow Noa any power and controls her in death by silencing her futher.


Posted Jun. 19, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
alycet

Join Date: 04/23/12

Posts: 182

RE: What is the symbolism behind burying Noa's manuscript at the end of the novel?

Marlene could have burned the papers instead of burying them to get rid of them. I think she buried them by Sarah as her way of putting Sarah and the manuscript out of her mind. They both defied her and took away her control.


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