Jamestown By Fredrick Backman Symbolism

In Beartown by Fredrick Backman, animals are just as important as the characters within the novel. Each character's different pasts, fears, motivations and desires determine where they land on this town's food chain. Backman does this to show that as humans we are animals at heart because it is our human nature. Backmen uses motifs of animal characterization, symbolism, and comparison to demonstrate how the town acts on animal instinct as if they are an animal kingdom. Lions, wolves, and bears are often compared to the cast of characters within Beartown. Backman does this with Kevin, Amat, Maya, and Kira. Amat, a character who is smaller and quieter than the rest of the junior team, is described as, “A lion among bears” (Backman 100). Amat is compared to a lion a few times within the novel and this is to represent his courage, natural leading ability with Bobo, and focus on achieving his goals.

!’” (Backman 100). Amat shows great courage at the end of the novel when telling the town Kevin raped Maya and Amat shows no fear because he is helping someone who cared about someone in his pride, “The hands that push between them are half the size of Lyt’s, actually even smaller than Amat’s, but they keep boys apart as if they possessed infinite strength.” (Backman 353). Kira has been described by her daughter as a “‘‘wolf mother’’” (Backman 322). and Maya goes on to say, “‘I’ve got wolf blood’” (Backman