Nollop symbolizes the nationalistic attitude on the island. As a symbol, his image and sentence sparks the island’s Council into action when the first letter falls. To them, there is no better answer than ridding the island of the letter entirely. After all, it could be a sign from Nollop, a sign from their country’s backbone. To prove their nationalism, the Council’s belief in Nollop is not swayed throughout the novel. Some citizens are compelled to follow their lead, turning on neighbors and friends. In the end, Nollop comes to symbolize chaos—his sentence causes pain to all involved. 

A constant motif throughout the story is the letters—both the written letters from one person to another and the letters of the alphabet falling from the statue into discontinued use. The letters not only symbolize Nollop and nationalism, but they also support the theme of individual against society. Consider the end of the novel when Ella writes to herself. She is an individual with no one left to turn to—she needs to continue fighting, and she does. Both types of letters enable the island’s individuals to rebel and the Council to snatch power.