Motifs in TVBIA

There are repeating motifs of fire and the color violet within The Violent Bear It Away. Not only does the beginning of the book mention that Frank has longed for a “burning bush” experience to establish him as a prophet (a desire which he struggles with throughout the book), his attempts to clean himself and his mind first after his great-uncle’s death by burning the house and then after his rape by burning the pine and other trees lead to his final “revelation” of the burning bush and God’s mandate for him at the end of the story. Fire is an interesting choice because while it is traditionally a symbol of purification, it is also associated with Hell fire, and is the elemental the opposite of the water that draws Frank and Rayber to baptism and murder. As for violet, in memories, old Tarwater warns that Satan will seek Frank out, offering him cigarettes and liquor...exactly as the “violet” rapist does later. Additionally, it is revealed near the end, in the boat, that the voice of the “friend” that Frank has been conversing with throughout the book has violet eyes, making readers wonder whether it was Satan all along.