You can help us out by revising, improving and updatingĪfter you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. In keeping with the symbolism of moonlight as being the state of navigational purity, this gives Sani the symbolic representation of being the destination that she was intended to arrive at once her from larva to moth was complete. SaniĪt various points along the way, the narrator wonders if Sani is the moon before reaching an affirmative state of certainty that he is her moon. This becomes a metaphorical state of reference for the characters who have strayed from the right path and into big mistakes adversely impacting their life and plan. Lightbulbs, in other words, throw the moths off their game and send them flying toward destinations which are not planned and are often dangerous. Lightbulbs-and flashlights and lighthouses and all other man-made artificial illumination-are things which sent mess with the natural navigation of moths by moonlight. The moon is the symbol of purity of flight and direction relative to the metaphorical implications of the main character. Moths are genetically engineered to navigate by the light of the moon, but human progress has done them no great favors by obstructing their natural navigational perfection with all manner of artificial lights. In the poem 'Transverse Orientation' the narrator explains away the myth of moths being drawn to a burning flame. This makes the caterpillar a symbol of the journey itself rather than reaching the destination. Elsewhere, the caterpillar is literally addressed as a creature of movement from larva stage to moth a transformation process that is a journey. This decision is made on the basis of it being used for a journey. The narrator decides that Sani's Jeep is a caterpillar.

Without giving too much away, this symbolism of moths is very apt for the character narrating the story. Often, the moth was specifically seen as messengers from the afterlife trying to communicate with the living. Moths have traditionally been-especially within certain Native American cultures-symbols of the mysteries of death. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

Me moth amber mcbride