The Symbolism of the Egg

[TigerEyes]

I think it was black for a reason, to point to the darkness that surrounds Eli. And yes, it is a complicated puzzle and in that way represents the complicated person that is Eli. And I also like how, despite its great value and the fact that it represents, in its solved condition, untold hours of tedious labor, Eli freely allows Oskar to break it and that it becomes entirely secondary to their wrestling match.

that makes a lot of sense, i love how JAL have written that scene, it really makes it more beautiful.

[a_contemplative_life]

Thought I would dig around and post images of some Fabrege eggs...

[metoo]

"Men ... kan du få ihop det igen?"
"Jag tror det."

"But ... can you put it together again?"
"I think so."

Eli wasn't sure that he would be able to assemble the puzzle, which I interpret as that he hadn't yet attempted it. Thus, Oskar was the first one to take it apart.

[cmfireflies]

There's a similar scene in the play the glass mengerie I always thought that the egg breaking represents Oskar seeing past the vampire and loving Eli as a fellow human and child.

[Ash]

I think it was black for a reason, to point to the darkness that surrounds Eli.

In fact, the egg was only black when viewed from a distance. On closer inspection-
"... more closely he saw hundreds of complex strands of gold..."
Like someone who judges Eli only by what he does (kill people on a regular basis), they don't see the humanity still running through his veins. Those threads of gold.
Is that enough analogy and symbolism for ya?

[johnajvide]

Hmm ...
As far as I know I had no specific symbolism in mind when choosing the image of the egg. The egg was just supposed to be another version of the Rubiks Cube, but with dilligence rather than intelligence needed to solve it. It´s main function was to illustrate the amount of time that Eli has on his hands, how many empty hours spent putting this puzzle together. And also, of course, to represent an object of great value as a hint of Eli´s ambigous past.
But there is usually a reason for why you chose an image, even if that reason can be beyond your own comprehending. An image just seems perfectly right, and this feeling comes from the fact that it is multilayered and open for interpretation. So any or all of your ideas could be a subconscious reason for why I chose that particular image.

Just back from vacation, intend to start working on "X", my next novel now.

[DMt.]

Nice to see you around the board, JAL.

[Ash]

"...the fact that it is multilayered and open for interpretation."

Your egg seems to be solid in your novel. The film version was hollow.
Open for interpretation is the reason I love all your works. You give no place for anyone to hide.
Nice vacation? I look forward to your next work. Keep 'em com ing.

[mackousko]

Hmm ...
As far as I know I had no specific symbolism in mind when choosing the image of the egg. The egg was just supposed to be another version of the Rubiks Cube, but with dilligence rather than intelligence needed to solve it. It´s main function was to illustrate the amount of time that Eli has on his hands, how many empty hours spent putting this puzzle together. And also, of course, to represent an object of great value as a hint of Eli´s ambigous past.
But there is usually a reason for why you chose an image, even if that reason can be beyond your own comprehending. An image just seems perfectly right, and this feeling comes from the fact that it is multilayered and open for interpretation. So any or all of your ideas could be a subconscious reason for why I chose that particular image.

Just back from vacation, intend to start working on "X", my next novel now.

O.k. This is COOL. It's like GOD visited this site from time to time.

[DMt.]

**

<a learned distant-future archaeologist speaks from a simple podium>

"...we infer, from the scanty available evidence, that this cult of 'The Infected' involved an invisible deity known as 'JAL' [or sometimes, confusingly, 'JAL/TA'] sending an avatar known as 'Eli', who develops a relationship with an earthly boy, one 'Oskar', who leaves his human life in order to be with 'Eli'.

The few available images of 'Eli' make it easy to understand why 'Oskar' is so smitten..."

<audience laughs quietly as cute images of eLina are put up>

"...what is less understandable, to a modern mentality at least, is that the central ritual of the cult, the 'Nomming', appears to have been a form of cannibalism involving the theft of a victim's blood, live from the body."

<audience stops laughing and gasps in horror as grainy clip of Eli entrapping Jocke is projected>

"Curiously enough, however, 'Eli' does not 'nom' the boy Oskar, but instead kisses him, mouth still wet with the blood of a victim."

<audience groans and sighs as grainy Eli first sadly contemplates, then bloodily kisses Oskar>

"Another confusing feature of the cult is that its gospels seem to have a great deal of latitude in exposition of the faith, with contradictory and widely-divergent views apparently being not only permitted, but encouraged. The core text is lost, sadly, but there remains a secondary corpus known as the 'FAFF'..."