What is the importance of bears in the novel, The Alaskan Laundry?

The island is full of bears. These creatures represent several contrasting elements in the novel. Bears hibernate and then wake up, or come back to life. Rejuvenation takes place. This is what happens to Tara. She feels as if she cannot breathe when she decides to go to Alaska. The island rejuvenates her.

A bear also represents a warrior, which reflects Tara’s boxing spirit. She fights to get what she wants.

Finally, the bear symbolizes the danger caused by the unconscious. Tara’s bosses often refer to her as a liability. It is her unconsciousness that causes her to lash out. The same can be said for Conner's and Tara’s fathers who are cruel and lash out at Tara due to the uncontrollable contents of their unconscious. They go berserk, a word that refers to a Nordic warrior who becomes like a bear.