Symbolism

Leper and his experience in the war symbolize change and how expectations can cause anxiety. The tension represents the contrast between the loveliness of the world and the hideousness of the character’s inner lives. Most of Leper’s visions involve transformations of some kind, such as boys into grown men and boys into soldiers. These transformations can cause inner conflicts between the characters and themselves, resulting in violence, envy, or dishonesty. Leper’s hallucinations reflect the fears of adolescence.