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Margaret’s Father
Hearts
Hearts represent the children PACT authorities have removed from their parents’ custody, conveying the depth of this loss by comparing their loss to the absence of a vital organ. The first heart appears as graffiti…
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Libraries
Libraries symbolize the right to free speech, thought, and access to information, all of which are threatened by PACT in Ng’s imagined version of America. Although they are a primary target for PACT censorship, libraries…
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Cats
Cats represent communal efforts—specifically those inspired by art—to overcome oppressive environments. They first appear in Margaret’s letter, which is covered in drawings of cats and a small door. That this small clue reminds Bird…
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