APDFB and Esmé

APDFB and Esme have many similar symbols. Both stories mention feet, which seems to be a symbol for innocence and corruption in both stories. X describes Esmé's feet as lovely, but he tells Clay to get his "stinkin feet" off the bed. Clay is corrupted because of the war, so his "stinkin feet" could be a symbol of his corruption, while Esmé's feet may represent innocence. In APDFB, Seymour was insecure about people looking at his feet because he didn't want anyone to see that he has been corrupted from the war. Seymour also kisses Sybil's feet because they show her innocence.

A huge part of both stories is the war and PTSD. Seymour and X are ashamed of their experience in war because war has corrupted them. Seymour describes the soldiers as banana fish in an unpleasant way, while X is disgusted by getting an Eisenhower jacket. X does not want to flaunt his experience in the war, unlike Clay who wears all his service ribbons and stars. Both Seymour and X show signs of PTSD; however, Seymour commits suicide in the end, while X started "becoming a man with all his fac- with all his f-a-c-u-l-t-i-e-s intact" (173) because of Esmé's package.

Both stories have an age gap in friendship/relationships. Sybil and Seymour have a big age gap like X and Esmé/Charles. The differnce is that Seymour acts younger for his age, but Esmé acts older than thirteen. Seymour wants to be younger and innocent like Sybil, but a reason that Esmé acts older may be so she could impress X.