The Symbolism Of Water In Edward Bloom's Spectre

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Water is a recurring, and quite important symbol, that represents Edward’s life. The scene in which Edward Bloom confronts the misunderstood giant, Karl, shows water representing the danger to his life. As Edward seeks out Karl with the intention of being a human sacrifice, he steps away from the lake bordering the giant’s cave. The giant thrusts him towards the lake, commanding him to ‘go away’. Ed, of course, stays, and tries to convince the giant to eat him (to protect the town), and they proceed into a talk which eventually leads them into leaving Ashton. The positioning of Edward and the lake are key in this scene. When he peers into the cave, he is furthest away from the lake, and in turn closest to death. Karl, however, isn’t what our …show more content…

In a scene before he arrives at Spectre, Edward participates in the robbery of a bank with a former poet but finds that the bank has no money left in its vault. The teller explains to him that this is the result of loan breakers, which he ,in turn, takes a great deal of effort explaining to the poet. This new found problem of loans is ripe in his mind when he reappears at Spectre, which now is a dusty road, with brown houses marked ‘loan’, and no life to be found in a glance. Barring his entry into the town, this time, was not a forest, but a storm and a flood. Ed was powerless to this, and as no water entered the car, he fell asleep. The overflow of water represents his being overwhelmed at life. He is burdened with responsibilities and is at a point where he would consider an affair. The disappearance of the forest and the appearance of the flood means that he no longer has the doubts of growing up, but adulthood has burdened him. He does not try to move his car and just gazes around him in the flood, showing his helplessness to the weights around him. Edward decides to rebuild the town that is now barely resembling its past. He uses all the connections he has made throughout his journey to raise the money needed to buy the town and repair it, also paying off its debt. This rebuilding of the town shows Edward taking control of his life once more. He solves the problem he has found in society, debt and loans, and rescues his perspective on life. He realises he is not alone, and can work together with the ones he trusts to reclaim his life and fight against his helplessness. The one final obstacle to succeeding is Jenny and her house - the last property to be bought. Edward decides to rebuild her house by himself, and Jenny misinterprets this and falls in love with him. She tempts him to start an affair, which he declines. In this time,

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