Fire is a major symbol within the novel. It is first introduced in Chapter 1, when Gerald is caught playing with Monique’s lighter: “She [makes] the fire come out and she [holds] his hand right over the flame” in order to “teach him a lesson” (6). Gerald’s fascination with fire quickly fades when he has a near-death experience after accidently setting the apartment on fire. From this point on, fire represents the trauma, abuse, and the harsh memories of Gerald’s childhood. He becomes haunted by “all of the hot fears and fiery memories that he had let fade over the last few years,” which “were only hidden, not forgotten” (30). Gerald is unable to fully separate his current life from his past, so he must learn to face and accept them.

Although these are tough experiences, they are formative for Gerald. He gains strength from them and matures into a responsible young man by the end of the novel. The novel’s title is significant as well. Gerald is “forged” by fire, implying that he is shaped by these hard experiences. When Jordan enters the story, he represents a new “fire” or challenge in Gerald’s life, which he must face.