which continually force Jim to reflect on himself throughout his solitary journey. In the shattered mirror in his mother's bedroom, Jim notices "pieces of himself seemed to fly across the room, scattered through the empty house." The mirror takes on increasing significance as it re-occurs, each time reflecting a different Jim as he eventually "scarcely recognised his long hair and grey cheeks, the strange face in a strange mirror...an urchin half his previous size, and twice his previous age." Jim has left the privileged pre-war world, and he has become his own responsibility, as the 'old' Jim would not have noticed any change in the mirror as a servant or his mother would have cleaned him before he had the chance. Another symbol of the changing Jim is his name. He is no longer Jamie, but " 'Jim...' Basie explained. 'a new name for a new life'" this is symbolic of the death of his old life and of the continually changing Jim throughout his journey. The most significant step in his journey is the casting adrift of his wooden suitcase, which is symbolic of the maturing Jim. He casts away his prized possessions along with the young, immature child within the box as his " first adult act," reflecting the importance of this journey and the changes it has made within him.
             As well as an understanding of himself, Jim develops and understanding of the people around him throughout his journey. The arrogant and ignorant Jim at the beginning of the novel knows nothing outside his Amherst Avenue home and his parents' fancy parties. He does not care for the homeless man they drive over, interested instead in the "pattern of the Packard's Firestone tyres in the old man's left foot". However, throughout his journey, Jim begins to "feel so
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