How does the author use symbolism in the novel, We Know You Remember?

Sven's house is a symbol of loneliness. When Olof returns to the house for the first time, he is shocked to find his father dead inside. He realizes that the fact that no one has found his father is a sign of his isolation in his old age. Eira has a similar experience when she first enters the house. Its disarray and disrepair, in tandem with the horrific image of Sven in the tub, remind Eira of the universality of loneliness.