Symbolism In The Wallace Playlot

When reading short stories, a large part of what the reader is trying to do is uncover examples of symbolism within the text. Symbolism is important because it allows for the reader to truly understand the theme of the story. Billy Lombardo (the author of "The Wallace Playlot") uses symbolism to illustrate the theme that all boys' childhoods have to come to an end through the Wallace Playlot representing the boys' childhood, the destruction of the Wallace Playlot inferring the end of the boys' childhood, and the symbolism that where and how you spend your time are what really matters in the future. The Wallace Playlot is a symbol for the boys' childhood. For example, when Kenny starts catching the softballs and the crowd starts to show up, "I noticed that traffic had completely stopped... Cars were double parked from Wallace to Parnell, and the streets were thick with the people of Bridgeport." (56). At this moment, Petey is talking about the people in the town and dropping everything to watch the boys' enjoy one final moment the Wallace Playlot. The Wallace Playlot is safe haven …show more content…
This story takes place in Bridgeport, Chicago. The Wallace Playlot is not in a location with big mansions or particularly wealthy people. In a small town where everybody knows everybody, one person accomplishing something small can seem like a much bigger deal. "It was like the crowd at the Fourth of July all-star game, and it seemed that everyone wanted Kenny to keep catching softballs..." (56). Obviously this boy catching a softball is not as big a deal as the crowd at the Fourth of July all-star game, but because of the close-knit setting of this town, it becomes a much bigger deal and creates far fonder memories than it would if this same situation were taking place in a town much bigger than