The symbolism of loneliness
The narrator is depicted as a single woman relocating from New York to The Hague to work as a language interpreter in the International Court. The narrator is bored and eagerly looks for companionship. When the narrator meets a boyfriend, she falls in love with him, and he asks her to move in with him in his apartment. The narrator quickly agrees, but she later discovers that her boyfriend is married. However, he tells her that he is not on good terms with his wife because he wants to divorce her.
The Hague
The Hague is an emblem of justice. The court is situated in the City of Hague. All political culprits who engage in criminals against humanity are brought to The Hague to be tried. While the narrator is in The Hague, she listens to the case involving the former presidents such as Charles Taylor and Laurent Gbagbo, who are accused of crimes against humanity during their reigns. Therefore, readers look at The Hague as the epitome of justice for the oppressed.
The narrator’s boyfriend
The narrator’s boyfriend is a symbolic character who represents disillusionment. For instance, he leaves the narrator in his apartment and travels to Lisbon, promising her that he will divorce his wife so that he can marry the narrator. However, he does not keep his promise because he remains silent for several days without communicating with the narrator after leaving. When he narrator’s boyfriend, at last, is found on the phone, he seems disinterested in the narrator. Therefore, he disappoints the narrator by not keeping his promise.
The motif of immorality
Immorality is symbolized by the former president's love for the narrator. The reader understands that the former president is in The Hague to answer charges linked to rape, economic sabotage and other related crimes against humanity. Paradoxically, the former president forgets that he is facing serious charges and starts expressing sexual interest towards the narrator.
