The Library
The library symbolizes Holmes' peace of mind. Whenever Holmes wants to relax, he goes to the library and starts reading because it makes him be at peace with his mind. The author writes, “He then retreated into the library, where he sat quietly, glad to be surrounded by his books and the familiarity of home.”
The Field of Marigolds (Symbol of transformation)
The author figuratively uses the field marigolds to represent Holmes' transformation from active years to old age. The author writes, "And there too, in the field of marigolds, he saw himself contrasting amid the red and golden yellow beneath. Naked with his pale flesh exposed above the flowers, he resembled a brittle skeleton covered by a thin, veneer of rice paper.”
The Beard (Symbol of memory loss)
Holmes is over ninety years old, and he is residing in his permanent house. After serving in the army for many years, Holmes moves to live a private life. However, his losing his memory every day. The reducing beard and sunken cheeks represent Holmes' memory loss. The author writes, “His flowing hair had been shorn to the scalp, and his beard was reduced to subtle on his jutting chin and sunken cheeks.”
The Attic (Symbol of privacy)
The attic emblems privacy. Mr. Holmes spends most of his time in the attic where he studies in privacy. The attic is described as a secret room only accessed by Holmes. The author writes, “Instead, he crept back upstairs, entering the one room in which Holmes was allowed to sequester himself: the attic study.”
Mrs. Munro
Mrs. Munro symbolizes companionship in the book 'A Slight Trick of the Mind by Cullin. Munro is the housekeeper in Mr. Holmes's house, and she plays a significant role in keeping him company. Mrs. Munro knows her role, and this makes Holmes to like her more. More importantly, Holmes loves Rodgers, Munro's son. Consequently, both Munro and her son are critical in Holmes’s life in his last days because they keep him company.
