74 pages • 2-hour read
The Finish Line
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Symbols & Motifs
The Finish Line
The “finish line” is the novel’s central symbol, representing the ultimate, hard-won goal of peace, purpose, and a lasting future. Initially conceived as a literal house Tobias builds in France, it evolves into a metaphorical state of being where his suffering and sacrifices find their meaning. This destination is inextricably linked to the theme of The Labor of Forgiveness and Redemption; it is a place, both physical and emotional, that Tobias cannot enter without Cecelia and a clear conscience. His journey is stalled by his survivor’s guilt over Dominic’s death, which he views as a barrier to his own happiness. He believes he must atone for his past before he can deserve the peace the finish line represents, illustrating that redemption is not a destination but a process.
Tobias’s perception of the symbol clarifies as he prepares to reunite with Cecelia, realizing that the physical structure is meaningless without emotional resolution. He reflects, “It’s more apparent than ever that it was never the house I was waiting for. It was today, this moment of clarity—a day where my head and heart are no longer at odds.” (3). This internal shift underscores the novel’s argument that true peace is not a place one arrives at but a state of being achieved through forgiveness, self-acceptance, and shared vulnerability. By titling the novel after this symbol, Stewart cements its importance as the narrative’s driving force: the relentless pursuit of a future where love is not just a temporary reprieve but a permanent home.
Birds, Ravens, and Wings
The recurring imagery of birds, ravens, and wings serves as a motif that represents the identity, cause, and permanent, transformative impact of the brotherhood. The Ravenhood itself is the clandestine organization that binds the characters, and being a “Raven” is a lifelong commitment to a dangerous code of vigilante justice. This identity is the source of the novel’s central conflicts, connecting directly to the themes of The Corrosive Nature of Secrecy and The Haunting Presence of the Past. The brotherhood’s violent activities necessitate secrecy that erodes trust, while the loss of members, especially Dominic, creates a haunting guilt that characters like Tobias carry with them. The motif is not just an idea but a physical brand; the wings tattoo is a permanent mark of membership, symbolizing a choice that can never be undone and a past that can never be erased.
Tobias fulfills the character trope of the romantic anti-hero, a solitary figure who operates outside mainstream social constraints. Early examples of this trope occur in the novels and short stories of Edgar Allan Poe, and the novel begins with an epigraph taken from one of Poe’s letters his aunt Maria Clemm, who was also his mother-in-law: “I was never really insane except on occasions when my heart was touched” (9). One of Poe’s best-known works is the poem “The Raven,” an elegy in which the speaker grieves his lost beloved. The intense romantic devotion on display in this poem is mirrored in Tobias’s devotion to Cecelia in The Finish Line, and the novel’s raven imagery serves as a constant reminder of this influence.
The wings motif is particularly significant as a symbol of Cecelia’s transformation in her relationship with Tobias. After she is marked, the tattooed wings become an indelible part of her identity. Upon their reunion, Tobias’s reaction reveals how this emblem of their violent past is woven into their present intimacy: “…it’s the sight of the delicate wings along her shoulders that gets me hard.” (8). His desire for this permanent reminder of her trauma and sacrifice shows that their shared history, however painful, is not something to be overcome but a fundamental, even cherished, part of their connection. The wings represent the inescapable nature of their past and their eventual acceptance of it as the foundation of their love.
Dreams and Nightmares
Dreams and nightmares function as a motif that externalizes the characters’ internal battles with trauma, guilt, and distrust. Throughout the novel, these subconscious episodes reveal the fears and painful memories that Tobias and Cecelia cannot or will not articulate, providing a raw, unfiltered view of their psychological states. This motif is directly tied to The Haunting Presence of the Past, as both characters are tormented by what they have endured. The nightmares are not just reflections of past events but active forces in the present, often triggering the confrontations necessary for them to begin the work of healing. Their shared experience of being haunted by their dreams highlights their deep, trauma-forged connection, even when they are emotionally distant.
The motif serves a narrative function as well as a thematic one, driving the plot forward. Cecelia’s nightmare about not truly knowing Tobias, symbolized by her not knowing “your brand of toothpaste” (20), is a direct manifestation of her fear and distrust stemming from his history of secrecy. The dream prompts their first significant and painful conversation, forcing them to confront the damage his lies have caused. Cecelia even considers her dream “a warning I should take seriously” (23), demonstrating how these subconscious fears actively threaten their conscious efforts to reconcile. Likewise, Tobias’s own torment over Dominic’s death surfaces in his mind, and Cecelia’s cries during her nightmares (89) compel him to act as her protector, reinforcing his role while underscoring the inescapable trauma that defines their journey toward forgiveness.
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