The iPod and Music as Symbols of Connection and Comfort in In the Likely Event

What Is the iPod and Music Symbol?

In In the Likely Event, the iPod and the songs Nate plays for Izzy form a concrete symbol of their shared history, emotional intimacy, and mutual comfort during traumatic experiences. The iPod is an actual device—an olive-green army backpack containing a waterproofed iPod that survived the plane crash in Chapter 2. It surfaces again years later when Izzy receives the bag from the airline (Chapter 8). Music also appears through Nate’s phone and AirPods during helicopter flights in Kabul (Chapters 7 and 11). Together, the iPod and music become a thread that connects the characters across a decade of separation, trauma, and uncertainty.

Where the Symbol Appears

The symbol recurs at several key moments:

How the Symbol’s Meaning Changes

Initially, the iPod is a found object—a remnant of the crash that miraculously survived. For Izzy, it becomes a lifeline to the stranger who saved her life, someone she thought she’d never see again. When she discovers Nate’s name written inside the bag (Chapter 8), the iPod transforms from a souvenir into a clue that allows her to find him. By the Savannah reunion (Chapter 10 and 12), the iPod has evolved into a gift that cements their bond; Nate explicitly transfers ownership, symbolizing his trust and his desire for her to keep a part of him after he deploys.

In Kabul, the symbol shifts again. Nate no longer uses the original iPod but instead plays songs from his phone through his AirPods during helicopter rides. The act of sharing music becomes a ritual of comfort during Izzy’s fear of flying—a direct callback to the crash. Songs like “Northern Downpour” and “This Is Gospel” carry intimate meaning: they are Izzy’s favorites, and Nate’s knowledge of them demonstrates how deeply he remembers her. Music thus becomes a nonverbal language that expresses love, apology, and the desire to protect, especially when words fail under the strain of their complicated past.

Character and Theme Connections

Nate and Izzy

For both characters, the iPod represents the possibility of connection against all odds. Izzy’s careful preservation and memorization of every song (Chapter 10) shows that she has held onto Nate’s memory as tightly as he has held onto hers. Nate’s willingness to give her the iPod—and later to play music for her—reveals his vulnerability and his need to care for her even when they are not together.

Themes

• Fate versus timing: The iPod survives the crash and later resurfaces, reinforcing the idea that Nate and Izzy are meant to cross paths. Songs like “Northern Downpour” echo their belief in serendipity (Chapter 10). See the fate versus timing theme.
• Military sacrifice and PTSD: Nate’s deployment and trauma are intertwined with his use of music as a coping mechanism. He mentions watching a therapist’s YouTube video to manage nightmares (Chapter 12), and the iPod serves as a tangible link to a memory of peace. Explore more in the military sacrifice and PTSD theme.
• Trauma recovery: Izzy’s fear of flying is directly linked to the crash; music becomes a tool to manage panic. Nate’s insistence on playing songs during flights mirrors the distraction technique he used on the original plane. Delve into trauma recovery.
• Communication and miscommunication: The iPod bridges gaps when characters cannot speak openly. For example, Nate plays “This Is Gospel” (a song about letting go) while internally struggling to let Izzy go (Chapter 11). See communication and miscommunication.
• Love versus duty: The iPod is a private token of love that exists outside Nate’s military obligations and Izzy’s engagement. It represents the hidden, enduring affection that conflicts with their public duties. Visit the love versus duty theme.

Study Questions

1. How does the iPod function as a symbol of connection across time and distance?

The iPod physically survives the 2011 plane crash and resurfaces years later, allowing Izzy to identify Nate by name. When Nate later gives it to her permanently (Chapter 12), the device becomes a touchstone for their relationship—a reminder of the night they met and the bond they formed. During the Kabul sections, the music from Nate’s phone (a digital descendant of the original iPod) recreates that connection in real time, bridging the years of separation. The iPod thus transforms from a literal artifact into a metaphor for a love that persists despite time, distance, and change.

2. What does the song “Northern Downpour” represent for Nate and Izzy?

Both characters name “Northern Downpour” as their favorite song from the iPod (Chapter 10). The song links them to their first encounter: during the crash, Nate played it to comfort Izzy. In the helicopter in Chapter 7, he plays it again as a silent message of recognition and care. The song becomes a private anthem for their relationship—associated with survival, memory, and the hope that they will find each other again. For Izzy, hearing it in Kabul after years apart reawakens the trust she felt during the crash.

3. How does the transfer of the iPod from Nate to Izzy signify their relationship’s evolution?

When Izzy first receives the iPod (Chapter 8), it is an anonymous object from a stranger. In Savannah (Chapter 12), Nate explicitly says, “I’m officially giving it all to you.” This act transforms the iPod from a loaned possession into a deliberate gift, signaling that Nate wants Izzy to hold onto a part of him while he deploys. The transfer marks the point where their accidental connection becomes a chosen commitment—even though they cannot define the relationship, the iPod becomes a tangible promise of future possibilities.

4. In what way does music serve as a coping mechanism for both characters’ trauma?

Both Nate and Izzy use music to manage fear and grief. Izzy memorizes the iPod’s songs and uses them during panic attacks (implied by her detailed recall in Chapter 10). Nate plays music for Izzy during helicopter flights to counteract her fear of flying; it also calms his own anxiety about her safety. In Chapter 11, when Nate plays “This Is Gospel”—a song about pleading to be let go—he is simultaneously dealing with his unresolved pain and his need to protect Izzy. Music provides a controlled emotional outlet that helps both characters navigate the aftermath of the crash and the stress of deployment.