Symbolism
There are extensive literary devices-symbolism used in this story and here it goes."I'll keep them because they stand for the love you have for me," she said. "I love you. I love you and have nothing to give."
--> Beads- in the Story, the beads represents the great love of Lumnay to her Ex husband Awiyao. Awiyao gave the beads to Lumnay as a gift, he said that she can keep the beads and it is worth 20 fields but Lumnay said that she will keep the beads because of her love to Awiyao.
"After some moments during which he seemed to wait, he talked to the listening darkness."
--> The Darkness symbolizes of what Lumnay is feeling. She is feeling sad and somehow lonely like when you are in the middle of the darkness, you'll feel that you're all alone.
"He crawled on all fours to the middle of the room"
--> The house’s four walls symbolizes the Lumnay's “imprisonment.” We used the term imprisonment because in the story Lumnay has no choice but to follow the rules of their tribe, even though she do not like the idea of separation just like when you are in prison, you have no choice but to follow and obey the rules.
"With bare fingers he stirred the covered smoldering embers, and blew into the stove. When the coals began to glow, Awiyao put pieces of pine on them, then full round logs as his arms. The room brightened."
--> The smoldering embers that become glowing coals then after a while will disappear symbolize for the love of Awiyao to Lumnay. At first a warm love then eventually it was fading.
Theme
True Love- is all about sacrifices and hope.
That in life, love is never enough to have a happy ending. Sometimes you need to set someone free not because you don't love him/her but because it's the best for the both of you.
