In the Lake of the Woods Symbols

The Lake

The most obvious symbol in In the Lake of the Woods (so obvious it’s in the title) is the lake itself. Throughout the book, we’re told that Lake of the Woods is big and complex—so… read analysis of The Lake

Weight and Fat

Many characters in In the Lake of the Woods struggle with their weight: John endured mockery from his alcoholic father, Paul, for getting fat in the 4th grade. Tony, complains about his weight… read analysis of Weight and Fat

Magic

John performs magic tricks throughout his life: when he’s a child, when he’s in the army, and even when he’s a politician. The symbolism of John’s fondness is frequently and explicitly stated: magic symbolizes John’s… read analysis of Magic

Sunlight

At several points in In the Lake of the Woods, soldiers—Richard Thinbill and the narrator himself—suggest that it was the sunlight in Vietnam that made American soldiers commit murder and other atrocities. It’s… read analysis of Sunlight

One Plus One Equals Zero / The Two Snakes

The phrase “one plus one equals zero” shows up at several points in the novel, as does the symbol of two snakes eating each other. In a sense, these are two different versions of the… read analysis of One Plus One Equals Zero / The Two Snakes