Eden
Eden’s name is a symbol for the innocence that his character represents. The name Eden brings to mind images of the Garden of Eden, a peaceful place that represents the source of human innocence. He acts as a place of innocence for Day, as he reminds him of his childhood and less stressful times.
The Plague
The plague is an allegory for the real-world ways in which war affects innocent people. Unlike a battle that may kill only soldiers, having a plague as the central villain of Champion reveals that war and violence affect more innocent people than soldiers. The plague acts as an allegory for wars in the real world, and how when those in power decide that violence is the answer to a conflict, it often causes harm to those who had no part in war.
The memory of family
Characters remembering their dead family members is a motif that presents itself multiple times throughout Champion. At the end of the novel, June remembers Matthias and realizes that she is older than he will ever be, and that he will never see the future she helped build. Anden thinks back on his father when unsure of how to lead the Republic, and fears that he will become the monster that his father was. Day remembers his mother when he thinks back on his childhood, especially when he almost dies. The characters remember their family when they need the strength to go on, either the motivation to live as their family would have wanted them to live, or to avoid making the same mistakes that their family did.
Hospitals
A large portion of Champion takes place in hospitals and other medical buildings, as the book explores the plague and Day’s illness. They act as a motif that represents the fragility of life. Hospitals are a place where people exist on the verge of death consistently, and as the characters in Champion are in the middle of a war where they could die at any moment, the hospital motif reflects their situation.
Day’s Injury
Day’s injury and subsequent memory loss are a symbol for the devastation caused by war. Even after years of fighting and avoiding death, something as simple as a gunshot takes him down. Part of him is damaged forever, and after surviving years of violence, the effects of war will follow him for the rest of his life.
