51 pages • 1 hour read
Our Last Resort
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Symbols & Motifs
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse, rape, graphic violence, and death.
The Wooden Letter “F”
Gabriel carves a rough wooden letter “F” as a present for Frida, and this is a symbol of individuality within a system that is designed to erase it. Émile’s cult prohibits personal possessions and selfhood is subsumed into collective ideology. In this environment, Gabriel makes the letter for Frida as a way to create a memento of their relationship and to recognize her as someone who is important to him. For Frida, the “F” is special because Gabriel is the first person in her life to show her true kindness, and she appreciates the token of affection. Moreover, it is one of the first objects she can truly call her own, and it anchors her identity amid enforced communal anonymity.
The carved letter also symbolizes The Moral Complexities of Unconditional Devotion. Gabriel could have been punished for stealing the cult’s supplies to create it, and Frida risks punishment by keeping it. Their exchange highlights their loyalty to one another despite the risks. In this way, the “F” foreshadows Frida’s later willingness to go to extreme lengths to protect Gabriel, culminating in her decision to kill Annie. The enduring emotional resonance of the carved letter speaks to the depth of their bond, which is forged through their shared experience of adversity.
