The stories “Symbols and Signs” by Vladimir Nabokov and “Dance in America” by Lorrie Moore both explore the theme of illness. These stories are similar because the families in each story have an ailing son who shares the same struggles and pain every day due to their known illness. However, these stories are also different because both of the sons’ show different ways on how to cope with their illness. The son in “Symbols and Signs” suffers from a rare condition known as referential mania while the son in “Dance in America” has cystic fibrosis. In particular, the son in Nabokov’s story is hopeless and weak, whereas the son in Moore’s story carries more positive attributes such as hopefulness and courage. However, it is an understatement to
