Less Is Lost

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Symbols & Motifs

Rosina the Camper Van

Rosina—the camper van that Mandern and Arthur use—is a symbol of freedom and adventure. It is clunky, old, and inconvenient. To travel in it, Arthur needs to find special RV camps, and its style draws attention. On the plus side, it survives the hurricane, representing Arthur’s resilience when pushing himself out of his comfort zone. When the van breaks down, Arthur is rescued by his former high school bully, who is now kind. As a result, Arthur realizes that we are all the main characters in our own dramas, with our own struggles that others are not aware of.

Rosina is a gift from H.H.H. Mandern. Rosina has been useful, but Mandern is done with traveling. He is ready to retire and, by implication, die. Mandern gives Arthur free reign of Rosina, implying that Arthur is only on the beginning of his journey. Rosina is a faithful and useful steed as Arthur explores the country and himself.

It’s as though Rosina intuits what Arthur needs. Like Athena, who helps Odysseus in The Odyssey, Rosina assumes the role of a deity who helps Arthur on his quest. In an homage to the great American road trip novel, Rosina allows for travel through several states. Driving forces Arthur to confront his anxieties and see the world around him.

Dolly the Dog

Dolly is Mandern’s dog. She travels with Arthur beyond Mandern’s final destination because Mandern wants Dolly to see the world. Though she misses Mandern, she develops affection for Arthur. Dogs are man’s best friend, loyal but also willing to spread their love. Dolly doesn’t care if Arthur is gay, odd, or in any way out of place. All Dolly needs is Arthur’s consistency, which he gives her. In return, Dolly provides Arthur, who hates to be by himself, silent but important companionship. When Dolly leaves Arthur to be returned to Mandern, Arthur feels alone. Though Dolly can’t converse with him, he had become accustomed to talking to her. Dolly acts as a mirror, a being that will listen with rapture because she loves unconditionally. Dolly is a source of comfort and a symbol of love.

America

America is practically its own character in the novel; Arthur’s exploration of the country is an ode to its diversity and paradoxical beauty. The landscape is characterized by its striking aesthetics, from the desert to the countryside to the coast of Maine. At the same time, Greer juxtaposes this beauty with America’s harsh and violent history of genocide, slavery, and struggle. America is also characterized through its inhabitants. On his journey, Arthur meets all types of people, from hippies to conservative Southerners to theater troupe members. In a country so diverse with subcultures, Arthur’s inability to fit in is actually a positive: It allows him to be welcomed as a stranger everywhere he goes.