Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Master/Lightning Bolt

Zeus’s master bolt represents the physical power Zeus wields over the gods. More broadly, it is a reminder of the divine in the novel. The way Zeus exercises this power inspires fear in others. When the bolt is stolen from him, Zeus feels that he can’t demand the respect of others and has to resort to manipulation to achieve his own ends. The bolt also represents a unifying bond between Percy’s identities as a human and as a demigod. Although he struggles with how to approach his quest and the master bolt, it gives Percy a purpose in this strange new world and a role to fulfill. This challenge allows Percy to learn more about himself, reconcile his dueling identities, and restore peace.

The Pen/Riptide

The pen/sword that Chiron threw to Percy to combat the Fury, Mrs. Dodd, is a symbol for Percy himself and his dual identity. This pen, disguised as a sword—Riptide—is similar to Percy in that it is multifaceted. Just as the sword can masquerade as a normal capped pen, Percy has gone through most of his life believing that he is just a regular kid. And yet, just as the pen grows into a magnificent sword when uncapped, Percy, too, grows into a hero and begins to embody the connotations of his real name, Perseus, when he finally discovers who and what he is: a demigod. That the sword came from Poseidon drives home Percy’s divine parentage and gives him another feeling of connection with his father. It also reveals his potential for greatness, another aspect of Percy’s identity with which he struggles to come to terms throughout the story. 

Thalia’s Tree

Thalia’s tree represents love, protection, and sacrifice. Before the events of the novel, Thalia sacrificed herself in order to protect her friends from Hades. After Zeus turns her into a pine tree so that she isn’t completely gone, her spirit continues to protect the camp, which solidifies the sacrifice she made by protecting the current campers from the Kindly Ones and hellhounds. When Percy is first told about Thalia’s story, it gives him both a feeling of divine protection and a recognition of the tangible effects of battle and sacrifice. Although his father has not yet claimed him as his own, he feels good knowing that there is another entity looking out for his best interests, as well as those of the other half-bloods. This tree helps Percy and the other campers maintain hope and recognize their own strengths as they try to honor Thalia’s sacrifice. The tree also serves as a reminder to Percy that even if someone dies, their legacy is not forgotten or diminished.