A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Several symbols stand for the complex and nuanced relationships between Shirin and her mother, father, and brother. These symbols support the theme idea of “Complexities of Family Influence.” The wooden spoon is a clear symbol of Shirin’s mother’s attempt to discipline Shirin’s language and disrespect, standing for her mother’s attempt to control Shirin’s overall upbringing. At the same time, however, the spoon leaves no lasting damage, and thus represents how fleeting and useless her mother’s attempt at control really is; Shirin is too old, too set in her opinions, and too strong-willed for that kind of discipline to have much effect. Another symbol of Shirin’s mother’s desire for control and discipline is her choice of TV show. Plots and characters on Little House on the Prairie demonstrate morals, values, and strong parental guidance; that Shirin’s mother loves the show symbolizes her desire for simple and effective parenting. Shirin’s father’s passion for translating Persian poetry symbolizes the difficulty Shirin has with communicating with her parents; her father is passionate about something that is quite meaningful to him but has trouble getting a clear message across to others. Connectedly, her father’s current fascination with faucets—a mundane and utilitarian device—shows that he wants to balance the challenge of communicating the perfect words in Farsi (in the translated poetry) with a basic, clear message of advice when Shirin needs help.