When You Trap a Tiger

There are several objects in the story that symbolize Lily’s defiance against her role as the quiet one in the family. First, Ricky places a camo hat on Lily’s head as they work on her tiger trap. Sam questions the hat, but Lily doesn’t take it off. It symbolizes a new potential role for Lily, as she would never wear something so odd. Ricky leaves the hat behind for Lily “just in case you find a hypothetical tiger” (137), a token of support as well as a symbol of her role as Halmoni’s protector. Lily brings the hat as protection when meeting the tigress on the first night of stories. Additional means of protection associated with her new role as tiger trapper are Halmoni’s mugwort and pearl pendant (the latter being of sentimental value as well).

The star jars foreshadow Lily’s eventual role as storyteller. Lily’s belief that the vessels hold trapped stories—and her crucial role in releasing them—speak to her love for Halmoni, her desire to save her. The idea of a jarred story sent across great distance and time symbolizes enduring love. Lily incorporates this image into the story she tells a dying Halmoni.