Goldman's explanation of what this passage means speaks to the many different ways of interpreting literature. For someone like Goldman, who's interested primarily in the story, this allows him to develop a better understanding of a beloved character that will then help the plot. Goldman invokes Stephen King’s name to give his assertion credence, given how popular and respected King was as an author at the time. Stephen King's cousin, on the other hand, represents the Florinese scholars like Professor Bongiorno, whom Goldman suggests don't actually know what they're saying. By assuring the reader that it's normal to not get this symbolism, he encourages them to not take those scholars too seriously.