Symbolism

One symbol in the story is the cassette that Ishmael carries around. The rebels and the army both question him about having this "foreign music".The cassette can symbolize many aspects of the story. Carrying this foreign music also represents Ishmael's connections with our world. It can be used to describe and remind us of Ishmael's childhood and the life he had before. It also symbolizes Ishmael's long journey away from his home town. Through the attack of the rebels, surviving alone in the forests, Ishmael has still kept this cassette to his side.