The Key Ring Symbol in Let the Great World Spin

The key ring that Jazzlyn drops during the police raid is an item that becomes rather charged with meaning as Let the Great World Spin progresses. It changes hands multiple times—from Jazzlyn’s to Corrigan’s, from Corrigan’s to Lara’s, from Lara’s to Ciaran’s, and from Ciaran’s to—finally—Tillie’s. Not only does it represent the ways in which even the smallest things can connect humans through long, complicated inheritances, but it also stands for the danger that Jaslyn and Janice face as children of a young prostitute who is forced—either by law or by death—to abandon them. (And notably, the key ring even bears pictures of the two children). It becomes clear that, if Gloria hadn’t shown up at the right place at the right time in order to adopt them, they too may have been passed from person to person just like the key ring that carries their images.

The Key Ring Symbol Timeline in Let the Great World Spin

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Key Ring appears in Let the Great World Spin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...and make him stand on the curb. On his way inside, Corrigan picks up a key ring that Jazzlyn dropped. It bears pictures of her two daughters. Ciaran tries to tell his... (full context)

...AM on August 7th, a bag of tobacco, cigarette papers, some money, a lighter, a key ring with the picture of two black girls, and the driver’s license of John A. Corrigan. (full context)

...to Corrigan—come to him and hug him. Ciaran reaches into his pocket and produces the key ring with the pictures of Tillie’s grandchildren. He gives it to Tillie and she studies it... (full context)

...a good excuse,” she says. She stops eating and spends her time playing with the key ring that bears photos of her granddaughters. (full context)

Let the Great World Spin

Colum McCann

The Key Ring Symbol Analysis

The Key Ring Symbol Timeline in Let the Great World Spin