A palm flower implant
A palm implant emblematically represents the environmental constraint caused by the influx in the human population. Therefore, the ageist society has come up with a tactic of eliminating the older generation by ensuring that the current generation ends at 21 years of age. A flower implant signals that an individual has attained the age of 21, and it is time for a painless execution to terminate a life.
The Sanctuary
The author figuratively uses the sanctuary to represent asylum for people running away from the ageist society. Any person attaining the age of 21 in the ageist society is executed because no one is expected to live past that age. Therefore, the people running away from execution use the subway to reach the sanctuary where they are assured of their safety.
The symbolism of betrayal
Logan 3 is a symbol of betrayal to the ageist society. While living in the ageist society, Logan 3 is tasked with operating the computer system that controls the world, ensuring that people attaining 21 years of age are executed. However, When Logan 3 attains the age of 21, he runs away to the sanctuary to avoid being executed.
Ballard as a symbol of hope
Ballard is a symbol of hope for the people seeking safety. Ballard operates in the subway, where he helps runners to reach the sanctuary safely. Ballard is 42 years old, but he looks younger than 21 years, giving him an advantage of not being suspected. Consequently, for the escapees, Ballard is a God who saves them from the jaws of execution.
