In the story the typewriter is a symbol for manipulation and misdirection. It is an important object in the story, as Mr. Symmington uses it to type up the names and addresses on the envelopes he uses for his anonymous letters. Mr. Symmington’s use of the typewriter showcases his talent for misdirection. The way he uses the typewriter is cleverly deceitful, as he types up the envelopes with one finger, making it look like the writer has poor typewriting skills. Inspector Graves sees through this misdirection, telling Jerry and Nash, “these envelopes have all been typed by someone using one finger […] Someone, say, who can type but doesn’t want us to know the fact” (94). This shows how Symmington tried to predict the police’s analysis and used the typewriter in an attempt to throw them off his scent.

Mr. Symmington also uses the typewriter in an attempt to frame the typical suspect in an anonymous letter case: A woman. He types up all the envelopes he needs before donating the typewriter to the Women’s Institute, an organization in Lymstock with resources for local women. He knows that the letters will be traced back to that particular typewriter, ensuring that the police will focus on women who use the Institute. This misdirection is highly effective, as Nash stakes out the Institute at night, hoping to catch the writer in the act. By being a key part of Symmington’s cunning plan, the typewriter symbolizes the killer’s manipulation and misdirection.