Wolf Hollow

What is the importance of Toby's self-portrait in the novel, Wolf Hollow?

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A self-portrait is among the last photographs that Toby ever takes, and demonstrates his struggle to find himself, and that he is only just beginning to see himself again. The photograph, at first glance, seems to be nothing more than that of a fishing hole looking down from a bridge. However, Toby’s vague reflection can be seen in the water, distorted by the ripples and transformed by the water itself. Toby’s desire to actually look at, and photograph himself after admitting to Annabelle he believes himself to be a horrible person signifies that he is coming to accept himself as something other than a horrible person –but that the journey is incomplete because the reflection is not clear. Likewise, the fact that the reflection is to be seen in the water signifies greater acceptance of the self because water is traditionally seen as being cleansing, both literally and figuratively. A self-portrait in water means that Toby is becoming self-accepting because of the kindness and time spent with Annabelle, which in turn has cleansed him of much of his heartache.

Source(s)

Wolf Hollow, BookRags