Symbolism

SYMBOLISM

Jamie

This story is told through the eyes of Jamie, who represents the common person, an average citizen who holds no authority. 

Tom

Tom represents democracy and leadership.   Tom is rather young, headstrong, but can show signs of weakness and frailty, as democracy is often frail in a new society.  Tom sometimes doubts himself when things get desperate on the island, and this brings forth the question of whether or not a society can survive under democracy, or if human greed and deceit will kill a democratically run community. 

Adrian

Adrian represents protection and strength, as seen in any society's military.  Near the end of our story, Adrian almost looses himself as he falls towards savagery.

Evan Bronte

Evan Bronte represents the intellectual class.  Those who are at the top of the intellectual pyramid are often separated from society, being mocked as “geeks” when they are children.  As high-achieving adults, they are considered a deviant from the norm, despite the fact that they are sometimes envied and even held in awe.

Dr. Jim

The doctor (Jim) represents understanding.  Like Brian, he shows deep compassion.  The doctor is the person who everyone on the island turns to when they are in trouble.  Jamie sees Jim as the father she's never had.  Recognizing that this is a large need and void, Jim plays that role.

Kane

Kane gives the story its spiritual and mystical slant.  Jackel Island is told in a realistic tone and can indeed be very true.  In our American society, we are overfed that which is tangible and material, but are starved for spirituality.  Kane represents the eye of wisdom beyond that which can be scientifically claimed.  Dr. Bronte, a man of science and a near-genius IQ, claims not to understand Kane.

Darcy

Darcy represents fire (fire element).  Often depicted in red, Darcy if ferocious, feisty, and takes no garbage from anyone.  In society, women are often “stepped on,”, but Darcy, full of spit and vinegar, rises above this.  She loves Tom, Jamie, Derek, Jim, Brian, and the others with a passion.  Just don’t mess with this woman.

Brian

Brian represents kindness and compassion. While Brian is insecure and highly sensitive, his heart is huge. The two most compassionate people on the island are the doctor and Brian.  However, while the doctor is confident and well accepted in society, Brian is self-doubting, overweight, and confused about his sexuality.  At 25 and a mere Assistant Cook, Brian has not yet discovered who he is.

Jeremy

 Jeremy represents society's youth; he is what his leaders make him.  When accepted (by Jim, Kane, Darcy, Brian, and Jamie), he is quite loveable, and he brings music to the island.  But when his leaders don't accept him or ignore him, he falls.  When Jeremy asks for a rifle to help protect their group, the security team tells him to stay with the women. Jeremy is a boy who is trying desperately to be a man, but never quite makes it.  

The music that Jeremy plays represents peace and harmony.  When their small community starts to crumble, Jeremy can no longer play his flute.

Derek

Derek represents innocence.  An unusually bright child in math, science, and computers, Derek does not understand what is happening around him when some of the people on the island turn savage.  All he knows is that he looks to the others for protection and love.  What happens with Derek at the end of the story is a statement about how society’s mistrust, blame, and betrayal can leave its mark on the innocent.

Grady

Grady represents the misunderstood.  He is also quite the joker and brings comic relief to our story.  A womanizer and a prankster, Darcy frequently cuts him down a notch, while the others don’t take him too seriously at times.  But Grady takes his job with the security team very seriously and proves to be self-sacrificing, and he is furiously loyal to Adrian.

Earl

Earl represents the earth (earth element), the heart of America, the “good ol’ boy” mentality of one of the last American cowboy.  Earl is a man of the soil.

Joel

Joel represents the unspoken.  The best in his field at fixing computers, Joel was selected out of thousands of candidates for his highly advanced electronic skills.  Joel lives in this world of science and closes out any social life.  Choosing solitude, Joel works by himself and doesn't join the others during the nightly campfires.  While his twin brother is outgoing, athletic, and full of fire, Joel is introverted, a man of the mind, and full of silence.  He does not know how to speak to his young son, Derek, though he deeply loves him.  In the end, Joel is driven to desperation from his world of silence.
 


Tariq comes across as gruff and biting, but actually finds solace in giving comfort to others.  He represents the duality of a person, someone who is not as they seem (and this is a common theme in Jackel Island).  As Head Cook, he’ll yell if anyone is late for dinner, but makes sure that Jamie takes a sandwich when she rides out with her horse to the other side of the island.

Sheila and the two nurses, Alice and Brittany, represent society’s alienated, the group of people who ban together and never choose to fit in with the norm.  We see this sometimes in a race, or a club, or even a clique. These three are mostly seen separate and apart from the others.  Darcy refers to them as “Sheila and Company.”  Jamie even forgets their names near the end of the story.

Philip represents friendship.
Pauline represents nurturing.

Marvin is just a funny character.  Ha.  Too intelligent for his own good, he sometimes trips over his own feet, and is totally unaware of the silly faces he makes.  Again, we see two polar sides of a person.

Mr. Hyde and Mr. Edwards are simply mindless thugs.  They are very minor characters, but there’s a play on “Jekyll and Hyde”, a parallel theme inside Jackel Island.

Henry represents love.