Photographs Symbol in I Will Always Write Back

The photographs Caitlin and Martin send each other represent how different their lives are, but also how their friendship transcends those differences. The photos highlight the extreme economic disparity between their families: photographs are commonplace for Caitlin, whereas Martin must scrimp and save to afford having a family portrait taken. When Caitlin first sends a photo to Martin, it shows that she wants to have a deeper relationship with him than just a school project—she wants to show him her true self. Martin is eager to return the gesture. He goes to great lengths to get a photo of himself because he knows that a photo will communicate things about his identity that words never could, proving that he also wants to get to know Caitlin better. The first photos the two exchange are more formal and posed, but eventually Martin feels comfortable sending a more candid photo of him with his family. This photo helps Caitlin realize the extent of Martin’s family’s poverty—so different from her own upper-middle-class upbringing—and she begins to better understand where he’s coming from in his letters. The photos they exchange thus show how people from across the world can connect with each other, while also highlighting the different experiences of people in wealthy countries versus people in developing countries.

Photographs Quotes in I Will Always Write Back

The I Will Always Write Back quotes below all refer to the symbol of Photographs. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

When I unfolded the letter, a small snapshot fell onto my desk.

I could not believe my pen pal would send me something so precious. Photos are very rare and quite expensive in Zimbabwe.

Related Characters: Martin Ganda (speaker), Caitlin Stoicsitz Alifirenka, Mrs. Jarai

Related Symbols: Photographs

Page Number and Citation: 31

Explanation and Analysis:

Photographs Symbol Timeline in I Will Always Write Back

The timeline below shows where the symbol Photographs appears in I Will Always Write Back. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Most of what Caitlin knows about Africa comes from colorful photos in National Geographic. She was born and raised in Hatfield, a middle-class town about 40... (full context)

Because Caitlin wonders what Martin looks like, she decides to send a photo of herself and ask him to do the same. Her mom had just taken her... (full context)

...from his pen pal. He carefully opens his letter and is shocked to see a photo come out (since photos are rare and expensive in Zimbabwe). He is also surprised how... (full context)

...is very excited by the letter, he worries when he sees that Caitlin wants a photo of him in return, since getting a photo could be difficult for him. On top... (full context)

...father are both surprised at Caitlin’s picture and find her very pretty. Martin puts Caitlin’s photo on his wall, next to a poster of Hulk Hogan. (full context)

Martin explains to his mother his problem about how Caitlin wants a photograph of him. Hiring a photographer would cost as much as a week’s worth of food.... (full context)

Martin writes a new letter to send with his photo. He tells Caitlin his birthday (March 9), apologizes for the delay on his photo, and... (full context)

...him very cute, although more as a little brother than a boyfriend. She puts his photo under the glass on her desk, where she keeps all her favorite photos. (full context)

...store Spencer’s, then sends him a picture from her winter dance. She asks for another photo from him, hoping it will be more current. (full context)

...calls her “Queen Caitlin.” He does this because of how she looks in the dance photo, but ironically, her parents and brother also sometimes do this (to jokingly suggest that she... (full context)

...came from a wealthy family because of the school uniform he was wearing in his photo. She doesn’t understand at first what Martin means when he says Zimbabwe is “developing.” Still,... (full context)

...his Reebok shirt, but he doesn’t know how. He starts working to pay for postage stamps, and eventually he gets the idea of using his earnings to buy earrings (instead of... (full context)

...and her family go on vacation to the Thousand Islands in Canada. Caitlin picks a photo from this trip to send to Martin. A few weeks into eighth grade, Caitlin receives... (full context)

In Zimbabwe, Martin is fascinated by Caitlin’s photos, particularly her large house and multiple cars. He mistakes Caitlin’s braces for mouth jewelry. Martin... (full context)

Martin is still struggling to get another photo of himself, so he decides to buy time by sending Caitlin a bangle from a... (full context)

...Martin’s father surprises him by saying that he’s arranged with a friend’s help for a photographer to come that weekend. Martin wants to look nice, so he puts on his father’s... (full context)

In Pennsylvania, Caitlin is surprised how formal Martin’s photo looks, but she can see him smiling beneath his serious pose. Caitlin realizes she is... (full context)

...one. He wants to tell Caitlin, but it’s getting harder to put together money for stamps. (full context)

...console him about being expelled from school. Martin keeps getting letters from Caitlin, asking for photos, and he still has no way to respond. He begins making some money by carrying... (full context)

...from Caitlin and wants to write back, but he knows that any money spent on stamps will come out of his fund for school. Finally, he grabs an ice cream bar... (full context)

Martin gets his photo taken in Harare (wearing a shirt Caitlin has recently given him). Just as he is... (full context)

...(since postal workers sometimes open mail). Caitlin gets the idea of hiding $20 behind a photo and leaving clues in the letter. Her mom agrees to pay this time. (full context)

...the next letter Martin receives, however, he finds the money Caitlin has hidden behind her photo. He takes it to his school to pay his tuition right away. (full context)

...exams in October. He and his family use some of Caitlin’s money to hire a photographer to take a photo portrait of them wearing Caitlin’s clothes. Martin is worried that Caitlin... (full context)

In Pennsylvania, Caitlin is surprised that Martin’s photo isn’t as bright and colorful as she pictured. The photo motivates Caitlin, as well as... (full context)

...partying too much in college. Caitlin writes a new letter to Martin with some new photos and more cash. (full context)

Caitlin and Martin hug while Caitlin’s mom takes photos. Martin greets the other family members as if they’re his own family. Martin has arrived... (full context)

...show Martin around Villanova, then take him home to the house that Martin recognizes from photos. (full context)

...about what she’ll do for her talk at the high school. She puts together some photos in a slideshow that she hopes will give her something to talk about. When Caitlin... (full context)

I Will Always Write Back

Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch

Photographs Symbol Analysis

Photographs Quotes in I Will Always Write Back

Photographs Symbol Timeline in I Will Always Write Back