Symbols Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt

The Dala Horse: Guilt, Grief, and Redemption in Remarkably Bright Creatures

Introduction

In Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures, the Dala Horse is a quiet but powerful symbol woven into the story of Tova Sullivan, a seventy-year-old widow and aquarium cleaner. This small painted wooden horse, a traditional Swedish handicraft, first appears as a cherished object linked to Tova’s late son, Erik. Later, its broken and repaired state becomes a vessel for unresolved guilt, and its final placement signals Tova’s emotional closure. This analysis traces the Dala Horse through the novel, connecting it to major themes like grief, family, and redemption.

What Is a Dala Horse?

A Dala Horse is a carved and painted wooden figurine originating from the Dalarna region of Sweden. In the novel, Tova owns a set of six such horses, handed down from her mother. They represent her Swedish heritage and family continuity. In Chapter 43: Some Trees, Tova considers donating the horses when clearing her attic for a move to a retirement home. She initially places them in the donation pile but then hesitates, moving them to the “keep” pile destined for Charter Village. This moment shows her reluctant attachment to the past.

The sixth horse, however, had been broken years earlier during an argument between Tova and young Erik. The fracture is more than physical; it embodies a rupture in their relationship and Tova’s lasting guilt over that fight.

The Horse’s Breakage and Repair

The evidence for the Dala Horse’s history comes from the climactic scene in Chapter 64: The Dala Horse. While Tova and Cameron—Erik’s son—explore Erik’s empty bedroom, Cameron notices a mismatched floorboard. After prying it up, they discover a secret compartment containing a wrapped parcel. Inside is Tova’s mother’s embroidered tea towel holding the sixth Dala Horse. Tova whispers, “My Dala Horse,” and runs a finger along its back. Every splinter has been glued back perfectly, the paint touched up. She realizes, “The sixth horse. Erik had fixed it.”

The repair transforms the object. What was once a broken relic of anger becomes a symbol of Erik’s remorse and love. As a teenager, he must have secretly mended the horse and hidden it—along with the knowledge of his act—under the floorboards. Tova had believed the horse simply lost; now she understands that Erik tried to make amends in his own quiet way.

The Horse as a Symbol of Guilt

Throughout the novel, Tova carries a heavy burden of guilt. She dwells on the argument that preceded Erik’s death; she believes her sharp words drove him away or left their last exchange bitter. The Dala Horse’s broken state mirrors that unresolved feeling. In Chapter 2: The Silver-Dollar Scar, Tova recalls an argument with Erik on the night he died—a trivial fight about money—and wonders if she failed him. The missing horse is a tangible gap where a repaired relationship should be.

When Tova discovers the repaired horse, her guilt begins to ease. The hidden object proves that Erik cared enough to fix what he broke, even if he never verbalized his apology. Tova’s whisper “Erik had fixed it” signals a shift in her understanding. The horse moves from a symbol of her failure to one of her son’s love.

The Horse as a Symbol of Closure and Family

In the novel’s final chapter, Chapter 66: After All, Tova has moved into a new condo. Ethan Mack often sits in her living room, “in the recliner next to the little curio shelf where she displays her Dala Horses.” The sixth horse now stands with its five companions, no longer hidden. Tova has chosen to display all six, integrating the past into her present. This public placement shows she has accepted the story that horse represents—both the break and the repair.

The Dala Horse also connects to the theme of family and identity. Tova’s discovery of the horse coincides with her welcome of Cameron into her life. Cameron is Erik’s son, a fact she learns hours before opening the floorboard. She gives him Erik’s class ring, and the two forge a new family bond. The horse, once a private symbol of grief, becomes part of the family story she shares with her grandson.

Character Connections

  • Tova Sullivan: Her relationship with the Dala Horse evolves from attachment to letting go, then to reclamation. It mirrors her grief journey—from numbness to acceptance. In Chapter 43, she almost donates the horses, but can’t. By Chapter 64, the repaired horse gives her permission to move forward.
  • Erik Sullivan: Though dead before the novel begins, Erik’s actions define the horse’s meaning. His secret repair shows his character: a troubled teen who nonetheless tried to make things right.
  • Cameron Cassmore: He is the catalyst for the discovery. His attention to the floorboard’s different grain (white ash vs. red oak) leads to the hidden horse. Cameron himself is a “repaired” object—a young man who initially runs from responsibility but eventually chooses to stay in Sowell Bay and build a relationship with Tova.

Theme Connections

  • Grief and Loss: The hidden horse represents buried pain. Tova’s grief over Erik has been compartmentalized like the horse under the floor. The grief and loss theme is inseparable from this symbol.
  • Family and Identity: The Dala Horse is a Swedish heirloom, connecting Tova to her heritage. It also links her to Erik and, by extension, to Cameron. The family and identity theme explores belonging and legacy.
  • Redemption and Second Chances: The repaired horse embodies the possibility of redemption—for Erik, who could not apologize in life, and for Tova, who absolves herself through the object. The redemption theme shows how small acts can heal.
  • Captivity and Freedom: The horse’s escape from its hiding place parallels Marcellus’s escape from the tank. Both objects are freed—the horse into daylight, the octopus into the open ocean. Captivity and freedom apply to objects as well as characters.

Study Questions with Answers

  1. Why is the Dala Horse hidden under a floorboard?
    Erik broke the horse during an argument with Tova. While repairing it, he hid his work (and the horse) beneath a mismatched board in his bedroom, possibly because he was ashamed or intended to reveal it later. Tova never knew the repair existed until Cameron discovered it.

  2. How does the Dala Horse change meaning from Chapter 43 to Chapter 64?
    In Chapter 43, the horse is part of a pile to be donated; Tova sees it as a relic of a lost family. By Chapter 64, after learning it was repaired by Erik, it becomes a testament to her son’s hidden love and a bridge to closure. Its meaning shifts from loss to recovery.

  3. What does the Dala Horse reveal about Tova’s character?
    Tova is precise and controlled, often suppressing emotion. The horse shows her vulnerability: she cannot discard it, and she holds onto guilt. Her discovery of the repair allows her to soften and embrace Cameron as family. It reveals her capacity for forgiveness—both of Erik and herself.

  4. How does the Dala Horse connect to the novel’s other major symbol, Marcellus the octopus?
    Both symbols involve hidden things brought to light. Marcellus hides in the breakroom; the horse hides under the floor. Marcellus helps Tova find meaning; the horse helps her find peace. The octopus leads to emotional release; the horse leads to emotional repair. Together they show that truth emerges when we least expect it.

Conclusion

The Dala Horse in Remarkably Bright Creatures is far more than a decorative figurine. It is a repository of guilt, a token of filial love, and a marker of healing. From its breakage to its secret repair to its final display in Tova’s new home, the horse mirrors her journey from grief to acceptance. Van Pelt uses this simple object to demonstrate how families mend broken things—even when the repair is hidden for decades.