Photos Symbol in They Both Die at the End

Photographs, both print and digital, symbolize life. Rufus thinks of his End Day Instagram photos as a way to shout it to the world that he lived, in color and on his terms, even as he stared down his death. Mateo, meanwhile, returns again and again to a printed photo of himself and Dad on one of Mateo’s early birthdays. He leaves it for Dad in the hospital with a note on the back for when Dad wakes up from his coma; after Mateo dies, Rufus adds to the note and includes his Instagram handle so that Dad can also follow his son’s final day with Rufus. In this way, photos begin to shift in their symbol meaning—rather than just representing life, photos also become a way for others to keep their lost loved ones alive in their memories.

Photos Quotes in They Both Die at the End

The They Both Die at the End quotes below all refer to the symbol of Photos. 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:

But I was wrong, go figure. This is exactly the person I always wanted to be—loose, fun, carefree. No one will look at this photo and think it was out of character, because none of these people know me, and their only expectations of me are to be the person I’m presenting myself as in my profile.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Rufus Emeterio

Related Symbols: Photos

Page Number and Citation: 46

Explanation and Analysis:

Rufus E. (3:19 a.m.): Hey, Mateo. Nice hat.

He not only responded, but he likes my Luigi hat from my profile picture. He’s already connecting to the person I want to become.

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Rufus Emeterio (speaker), Lidia

Related Symbols: Photos

Page Number and Citation: 74

Explanation and Analysis:

Photos Symbol Timeline in They Both Die at the End

The timeline below shows where the symbol Photos appears in They Both Die at the End. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Human Connection and Social Media Theme Icon

...be there for her anyway. Now, he’s just going to be a picture in a photo album. This isn’t an excuse, however, to not go cuddle her one last time. Mateo... (full context)

...of the stained glass windows, but figures that it won’t matter since all his Instagram photos are black and white. (full context)

...knows he has to visit Dad. He sits on Dad’s bed and grabs the framed photo of him and Dad blowing out the candles on his sixth birthday cake; Mateo thinks... (full context)

...he knows now that people matter more than things. He looks at his printed Instagram photos. Most are of his friends. (full context)

Business, Ethics, and Dehumanization Theme Icon

...wants to find a new version of himself on his End Day. Mateo selects a photo of himself in a Luigi hat, which he won for entering an online Mario Kart... (full context)

...it up” and go out right. Rufus seems like he might be suicidal, but his photo is warm and inviting, so Mateo messages him. Rufus compliments Mateo’s hat, which thrills Mateo... (full context)

...weird, so he keeps them inside. He sees a flash and notices Rufus taking a photo. Mateo says he hopes that someone is this kind to them when they’re dead. (full context)

...next guy the girl talks to follows her off the train, and Rufus takes a photo of the party car. Then, he moves to Mateo’s car. Rufus is ready to guilt... (full context)

...here when Mateo was born and when Mateo’s mom died. On the back of his photo, Mateo writes Dad a note, promising to be brave, and puts it on the dresser. (full context)

...notepad, starts to draw a map, and says he wanted to travel the world taking photos. He draws the countries he’ll never visit. Mateo suggests they visit the Travel Arena, which... (full context)

...and music history. She used to get her hair done weekly. Now, she never approves photos to go online because she thinks she looks tired, but Mateo thinks she glows. (full context)

...to look through his Instagram. It makes Rufus feel exposed. Mateo asks why all the photos are black and white, and Rufus explains that he started his account when he moved... (full context)

...might have blocked her, or he might be dead. She comments on all his Instagram photos asking him to call her and then she changes into workout clothes. Aimee got into... (full context)

...anymore after Rufus was hospitalized. The boys reach the Make-A-Moment station, and Rufus takes a photo of the entrance and uploads it to Instagram. He shows Mateo his phone, and Mateo... (full context)

...Mateo and Rufus get dressed in harnesses and ask their instructor, Madeline, to take their photo. She offers to take more for them while they’re diving and then explains that to... (full context)

...for wasting their time. Rufus says it wasn’t a waste of time and posts the photo of them in their gear to Instagram. (full context)

...letting other people know they matter by liking and commenting. She clicks through all his photos, but it’s too painful. Tomorrow, she’ll put up a status about her best friend dying.... (full context)

Rufus knows it sounds creepy, but he has to take a photo of Mateo sleeping. He thinks being on a train with a kid who’s holding a... (full context)

...Mateo out of his grave. Mateo kisses his mother’s headstone and notices Rufus taking a photo. Mateo looks at his placeholder headstone and thinks that soon, it’ll say, “He Lived for... (full context)

...take it. The guy is hesitant, but he rides away with it. Rufus snaps a photo of the guy on his bike, riding back to his friends. (full context)

Mateo and Rufus decide to swing, and Rufus snaps more photos. Mateo asks if Rufus is going to make any other big changes today, but Rufus... (full context)

...Rufus’s Instagram account. To his displeasure, there are lots of comments from Aimee on Rufus’s photos. He says they’ll wait for Rufus to post where he is. (full context)

...at home. Tagoe says they’ll be there soon and they hang up. Rufus takes a photo of the Clint’s Graveyard sign and uploads it to Instagram. Peck sees the post, puts... (full context)

...hat and puts it on Mateo’s head. Rufus laughs, pulls out his phone to take photos, and tells Mateo to jump on his bed. Mateo grins and leaps onto the bed. (full context)

...have his glasses. Rufus puts on Mateo’s glasses and takes a selfie of them. The photo makes it look like they’ve been together for ages. Mateo spits out that he would’ve... (full context)

...Lidia everything. Tomorrow, Lidia will build the bookcase that Mateo bought Penny and put up photos of him. She’ll keep him alive that way. (full context)

Rufus’s last Instagram photo is the one of him and Mateo, with Rufus wearing Mateo’s glasses. He’s thankful that... (full context)

They Both Die at the End

Adam Silvera

Photos Symbol Analysis

Photos Quotes in They Both Die at the End

Photos Symbol Timeline in They Both Die at the End