The Life Impossible

The house in Ibiza is symbolic of friendship. Grace is confused when she first receives the lawyer’s letter informing her that her former colleague, Christina, left her Ibiza home to her. She can’t reconcile herself with the gift because she has never considered her and Christina friends. However, her subsequent trip to and experiences in Ibiza reveal that Christina saw Grace as a kindred spirit. Giving Grace her house is Christina’s way of thanking her for her kindness and companionship, particularly for inviting her to spend Christmas with her in 1979 after Grace noticed how sad and lonely Christina was.

The island of Ibiza is symbolic of adventure and exploration. Grace initially has no intention of traveling there after inheriting Christina’s house because she believes that she’s too old to make such a trip. Once she changes her mind and ventures to Ibiza, she learns that the island is a mystical place that can change her if she opens herself to all it has to offer. This Mediterranean setting immerses Grace in the beauty of the natural world and inspires her to explore herself, life, and the world in new ways.

Grace’s emerald ring is symbolic of her humanity. When she has dinner with Karl in her dream, he explains the gemstone’s significance: “With an emerald,” Karl says, “the more inclusions, the more cracks and defects, the more beautiful it can be. An authentic emerald is beautiful for its flaws” (254). The ring represents Grace’s humanity in that its stone mirrors her simultaneous imperfections and perfections.

Daniel’s red bike is symbolic of trauma. He was riding this bike when a truck hit and killed him in 1992. Therefore, every time Grace encounters a red bike, she’s reminded of Daniel’s death and overcome with extreme grief and sorrow. The bike is an extension and reification of Grace’s traumatized state of mind.

Grace’s St. Christopher pendant is symbolic of protection. In Catholic tradition, St. Christopher is seen as the saint of travelers. In Grace’s story, St. Christopher shepherds the characters through difficult times. The pendant guided and protected Christina when she was in trouble and helped her get to Salacia safely. The pendant then leads Grace to La Presencia and ultimately keeps her safe throughout her subsequent conflicts.

The olive jar is symbolic of mystery. Grace’s initial encounters with the jar pique her curiosity and inspire her to seek answers to Christina’s death. The jar also refills with glowing water every time Grace dumps it out. When it’s full, the water inside glows, which inspires a sense of wonder and comfort in Grace. In these ways, the olive jar opens her up to the mysteries of the world around her and helps her engage with life again.

Es Vedrà is symbolic of fragility and beauty. It is a large rock protruding from the water along Ibiza’s southern coast. Es Vedrà is home to many birds and animals and is “a symbol of a sacred and natural place” (233). Grace, Alberto, Marta Ribas, and Christina are desperate to protect the land when Art Butler tries to buy it and build a resort on it. The main characters ultimately stop him from doing so and preserve this fragile ecosystem. The novel uses Es Vedrà to represent the threats that development and environmental degradation pose to the planet at large. Therefore, the characters’ work to save it underscores their desire to protect this part of the Earth and its diverse inhabitants.