![]() Philip’s successful climb up the tree is a symbolic of his reaching a state of greater maturity that will allow him to survive the loss of Timothy. It is another case of the old man preparing the kid to survive on his own in the inevitable result that he will one day die if they are never rescued. Timothy continues to push him toward overcoming his fear, but not out dark impulses. ![]() ![]() ![]() Philip is terrified of attempting to climb the coconut tree in his blinded state for obvious reasons. The symbolism here is intended to call to mind the imagery of Jesus sacrificing himself during the crucifixion. Timothy ties himself to a tree in order to literally use his own body to protect Philip from the slashing rain and howling wind of the storm. This temporary blindness is a multifaceted symbol: learning not to judge people on appearances while also illuminating how one can overcome flaws instilled in their own metaphorical lack of vision. In the aftermath of being rescued, surgery will return his vision. ![]() He must therefore spend the rest of the novel relearning how to do things without the benefit of vision. Philip loses his vision as a result of staring at the sun and its glared reflected off the ocean waves. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. ![]()
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