Symbolism - hands
Hands
Hands symbolise loving relationships in the story. Clare explains the word subtle
to her father through action. She took his haun in mines and turnt it roon so his palm face upwards
. Having pressed doon on his palm
with her glittery finger, the imprint
of Clare鈥檚 finger left sparkly wee trails of light
. Clare imprints
this loving memory, reflecting on it on the day of her father鈥檚 funeral.
Clare is comforted by her mother after her father鈥檚 death:
We sat for a long time, no speakin, just haudin hands
Although they are not ready to speak about their loss, by holding hands Clare and her mother share a physical connection, reminding them that they still have each other. It symbolises the loving bond between mother and child.