56 pages • 1-hour read
Lies He Told Me
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Symbols & Motifs
Anna’s Bridge
Marcie Bowers describes Anna’s Bridge as “one of those creaky old truss bridges that always remind me of a carnival ride” (6). The depiction emphasizes the structural fragility of the bridge, which plays a role in the novel’s events. It also draws attention to the bridge’s connection to Hemingway Grove’s history as it is “named for Anna Hemingway, the daughter of the fur trader who founded this town” (341).
The location of key events in the novel, Anna’s Bridge is also a recurring motif illustrating the inextricable link between the past and the present. David takes Marcie to a riverside spot with a view of the bridge to reminisce about how they first met there. The bridge then becomes the site of the narrative’s inciting incident when the driver of an SUV has an epileptic seizure, crashes through the guardrail, and plummets into the Cotton River. David’s heroic actions, which save the driver’s life, instigate a chain of events that expose the past he believed he had left behind. The repercussions of history are highlighted when Silas Renfrow later disposes of the gun with which he fatally injured David on Anna’s Bridge.
At the novel’s climax, Marcie chooses to confront Agent Blair and Silas on Anna’s Bridge. The location becomes a narrative framing device as the story’s action concludes where it began. The bridge’s dangerous state of disrepair serves as a tangible reminder of the automobile accident that led to this moment. Agent Blair reflects that Marcie’s choice of meeting place illustrates her “sense of irony” (344). However, the protagonist recognizes Anna’s Bridge as the ideal location to stage her plan and achieve closure on the past.
Lifesaving
The motif of lifesaving underlines the novel’s thematic exploration of The Nature of Heroism. The narrative begins with David’s display of bravery when he dives into the Cotton River and saves the driver of the SUV. Footage of the rescue goes viral as David’s actions embody the type of courage and athleticism traditionally associated with action heroes. At the same time, the incident illustrates Marcie’s strength under pressure. Although tempted to dive into the river and assist, she follows “the lifeguard rules” (8), recognizing “the smart thing” (13) to do is call emergency services and prepare to help from the riverbank. Marcie’s decision reflects her brand of understated heroism, which involves quick thinking while keeping a cool head.
David’s dramatic dive into the Cotton River is echoed at the novel’s climax when Agent Blair pushes Marcie off Anna’s Bridge. On this occasion, Sergeant Kyle Janowski demonstrates his heroism (characterized by bravery and dependability) when he saves Marcie from the raging waters. The protagonist’s significant role in saving her own life is also highlighted when Marcie reveals that, before handcuffing herself to the bags, she filled them with lifesaving vests.
The Hemingway Statue
David Bowers erects the Hemingway Statue outside his pub to exploit a common misunderstanding. The stone effigy of Ernest Hemingway is designed to appeal to tourists who assume that Hemingway Grove is named after the great American writer. Based on an original in Spain, the impressive statue becomes a visible symbol of David’s presence in Hemingway Grove and his impact on those who live there. For Kyle, seeing “that damn Hemingway statue staring at me” (298) is a bruising reminder of how Marcie settled down with David in his hometown after their breakup.
The Hemingway Statue also symbolizes the deceptive nature of appearances and the pursuit of money. The narrative is driven by Agent Blair and Silas’s ruthless search for Cagnina’s $20 million, and one of the novel’s central plot twists is that David concealed the money inside the statue. The concept of hiding in plain sight is underlined in David’s assertion that the statue will “catch people’s eyes” (300). Further irony is created through the other characters’ reflections on the statue. While Silas notes its grandeur, viewing it as an ostentatious sign of David’s wealth, he remains oblivious to what lies inside it. Similarly, Marcie recalls arguing with David over the expense of the statue as she drives to the empty safe deposit boxes at Prinell Bank. Underlining the novel’s exploration of trust and deception, the statue emphasizes that few things in the small town of Hemingway Grove are as they seem.
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