The titular sword represents the paradoxical relationship between imprisonment and freedom. For Sarkis, it is a magical prison, the instrument of his eternal punishment for betrayal, and for Halla, it is the intended tool of her death. This shared context of confinement establishes the foundation for their bond. As Sarkis explains, “I am bound to protect you. If I tried to kill you, I would be forced to leap between your neck and my own blade” (27). Thus, this magical obligation illustrates that structures of confinement can also contain the seeds of protection and alliance. During the characters’ journey, the sword transforms into the physical manifestation of their chosen partnership, for as Halla carries the sword partially drawn, Sarkis’s constant presence at her side emphasizes their developing intimacy and reliance, and the presence of the sword itself suggests that what was once a prison for Sarkis has become a shared sanctuary.

The White Rat functions as a symbol of pragmatic justice and institutional compassion. Unlike the Hanged Mother, whose faith attracts those who “value power and punishment” (120), the Rat’s Temple operates through advocacy, mediation, and law. The Rat represents an alternative model of power, one that succeeds by untangling the systems that trap people in untenable positions.