Image Study

Empire Building

The Empire State Building serves as a consistent symbol throughout the novel, as Joe and Sam work their way to eventually obtaining a floor in this famous structure. The tower itself stands out immensely among the much smaller buildings that immediately surround it, reflecting the vast success of its inhabitants over the masses. Joe and Sam start off at the bottom, with nothing carrying them forward other than their own determination and enthusiasm. As they progress, Joe and Sam move up both literally and figuratively, expanding their workforce and offices as they grow more popular. This climb to the top reaches its zenith as they look over the world from high above the city, in their luxurious and spacious new office complex.

The Escapist

Having obtained a grudge against Germany due to the invasion of his homeland, Joe uses his incredibly successful comic superhero, the Escapist, to convey his thoughts. The image above is from the cover of Sam and Joe's first comic book attempt, which was published in spite of possible controversy. Several times throughout the novel, Joe refuses to censor or alter the work that he has already finished and thought out. Joe is well aware that he has no real power over the war in Europe, but for a good while he is content with abstracting his vengeance through conveying the destruction of the Nazis in the universe he created. He later realizes the futility of his imaginary war, but is convinced that he had created his message, and secretly hoped that one day Hitler himself would see the picture.

Luna Moth

Later in the novel, Joe falls in love with Rosa Saks, an unusual but beautiful woman. Upon entering her room, he saw a multitude of moths scattered throughout the room. Rosa says that she isn't sure why there are so many moths in the upper portion of her house. Later again, Joe notices a crowd of people gathered around a caged tree while he is walking through the city. Upon closer inspection, he sees a luna moth (pictured above), and notes its strange beauty. Joe then whispers "Rosa" under his breath, and the moth flies off as he finishes the name. This leads to Joe making a connection between Rosa and moths, as both have an unorthodox elegance that requires a certain mindset to truly be appreciated. Rosa is the direct inspiration for Joe's new superheroine, the Luna Moth. Through this comic, Joe really tries to create a fantastical element via his art, to capture this essence that he sees in Rosa.

Lock

Locks commonly represent barriers, which can be broken, but not easily. Early in the novel, Joe learns the art of Houdini-esque escape due to fascination with the concept of being able to break through his obstacles, be they as simple as a padlock or as complex as fleeing to America from a war struck Prague. Korblum, and old magician, teaches Joe this art until he ceases upon believing that Joe is not trying to "prove the superior machinery of (his) body against outlandish contraptions and the laws of physics, but for dangerously metaphorical reasons. (37)" With this clear motivation, Joe decided to live his life in support of his ideals, without letting himself be obstructed physically or mentally. When he first starts drawing the Escapist comics, Joe refuses Anapol's advice to leave out Hitler and the Nazis, deciding that his message was of higher priority than pleasing his boss. Joe doesn't stop drawing the Nazis into his comic until he personally realized the futility of his approach on the situation. On multiple other occasions throughout the novel, Joe turns down offers involving his comics that lose track of the point he is trying to make, even in the face of a large potential monetary gain. It is this same determination that presses Joe to work so hard, with hopes that he will be able to obtain the means to reunite with his family against odds. Assuring the passage of his little brother, Thomas, into the United States, becomes a priority to Joe. He is hoping that Thomas will be able to (With his assistance) break through the many boundaries on his journey to rejoin him.