An author may use jigsaw puzzles as a symbol. Symbols are often used to describe a story/poem's meaning by strengthening the reader's understanding. If a character is portrayed as confused, the jigsaw puzzle can be used to describe the character. Beautiful music, gentle household pets and luxurious clothing are not symbols that closely correlate with the author's portrayal of the confused character.
Reflection upon one´s own identity, one´s consciousness through time and in time, is a philosophical topic that has puzzled thinkers for as long as thought has been present in humanity. In order to elaborate this topic through a fictional character, it would be fitting for a writer to use as a symbol the figure of a jigsaw puzzle since it, just like one´s own identity, seems to be comprised of pieces and fragments that one needs to place in a given order and arrangement —through effort and attention— in order to catch a glimpse of the overall image hidden in the composability of the pieces.
