An instance of interplay between symbolismin the text and readers' values and beliefs relates to the efficacy of psychological theory and practice. Early symbolism explores the idea of a dangerous and despairing life when Parker writes that Tom and Lauren woke to a "curious stillness. Clouds sagged over the river." The stillness and clouds sagging symbolize life that is oppressed and despaired of, as Danny's is and Tom's will be. Tom comes face-to-face with...
An instance of interplay between symbolism in the text and readers' values and beliefs relates to the efficacy of psychological theory and practice. Early symbolism explores the idea of a dangerous and despairing life when Parker writes that Tom and Lauren woke to a "curious stillness. Clouds sagged over the river." The stillness and clouds sagging symbolize life that is oppressed and despaired of, as Danny's is and Tom's will be. Tom comes face-to-face with a situation, Danny's attempt against his own life, that embodies readers' value of honoring the sanctity of life and readers' belief that help is given by psychologists and psychological theory [the meeting between Tom and Danny at the jetty illustrates contrasting characterization].
An instance of interplay between juxtaposition in the text—that of Lauren's voice juxtaposed to the slowly destructive tide—and readers' beliefs relates to the belief in the ultimate good of the psychological precept "just keep talking," a precept very early questioned by Tom himself:
Keep talking, he said to clients who came to him for help in saving their marriages. . . faced with the breakdown of his own, he thought, Shut up, Lauren. Please, please, please shut up.
This juxtaposition explores the idea of the inadequacy of psychological counseling theory and, by extension, the inadequacy of the larger Western worldview.
Tom kept his eyes down, hearing Lauren's voice go on and on, as soft and insistent as the tides that, slapping against crumbling stone. . . worked bits of Newcastle loose.
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