The Symbolism of Ring Dings in Ward D
What Are Ring Dings?
Ring Dings are a brand of packaged snack cakes—chocolate cake with a creamy center and a chocolate coating. In Ward D, they function as a concrete object that carries emotional weight, appearing at key moments tied to Amy Brenner, Cameron Berger, and the night's tragic events.
Where Ring Dings Recur in the Story
- Chapter 16: Cameron produces a packet of Ring Dings from his scrub pocket to comfort Amy after the unsettling interview with Spider‑Dan. The snack triggers a flashback to their first kiss at a party after a pathology exam, revealing the intimate history between them.
- Chapter 59: After Cameron’s death, a Ring Dings package slips from under the sheet covering his body, confirming his identity. Amy secretly retrieves it, and later shares the two cakes with her roommate Gabby in the parking lot, eating the last one as a silent farewell.
- Epilogue (Chapter 60): A year later, Amy mentions that her boyfriend Will’s iced chai latte is “even better than peach iced tea. Not better than Ring Dings though.” The snack remains a touchstone of lost connection and unresolved grief.
How the Meaning Changes
| Stage | Emotional Role |
|---|---|
| First appearance (Ch. 16) | Comfort offering, nostalgic link to happier times. Cameron uses Ring Dings to soften Amy’s anger and remind her of their bond. |
| Flashback within Ch. 16 | Symbol of shared vulnerability. The first time Cameron kissed Amy, she had just expressed her fear of failing—Ring Dings become linked to acceptance despite imperfection. |
| Post‑death (Ch. 59) | Object of grief and identification. The package falling from the stretcher transforms the snack into a memento mori; Amy takes it as a keepsake. |
| Farewell (Ch. 59) | Ritual of closure. Eating the last Ring Ding with Gabby allows Amy to say goodbye privately while outwardly pretending normality. |
| Epilogue (Ch. 60) | Persistent bittersweet memory. Amy still ranks Ring Dings above other treats, but the context of loss makes the preference melancholic. |
Character and Theme Connections
Amy Brenner
Amy’s relationship with Ring Dings mirrors her relationship with Cameron: she loves them but denies herself the chance to enjoy them. During the night, she refuses his attempts to reconcile, yet the snack remains her favorite. After his death, she claims the last package, using the food to process guilt and regret. In the epilogue, her casual remark about Ring Dings being “better” than anything else underscores the lasting impact of that night.
Cameron Berger
Cameron is the giver of Ring Dings. His gesture in Chapter 16 is an olive branch, and the snack’s reappearance as the sole identifier of his body in Chapter 59 turns the treat into an unintended epitaph. He never stops caring for Amy; the Ring Dings are the last tangible evidence of his thoughtfulness.
Gabby (Amy’s roommate)
Gabby is the unwitting witness to Amy’s private farewell. By offering her one of the two Ring Dings, Amy includes her in a moment of grief Gabby does not fully understand, highlighting the theme of deception versus reality—Amy hides the true meaning behind a casual snack share.
Themes
- Guilt and Unresolved Past Trauma: The Ring Dings are a direct link to Amy’s unresolved feelings for Cameron. She regrets her harsh words during their last conversation, and the snack triggers guilt that persists into the epilogue. The theme of guilt and unresolved past trauma runs through every appearance of the object.
- Survival and Trust: Cameron’s gift is an attempt to rebuild trust. After his death, Amy’s decision to take and eat the Ring Dings becomes a solitary act of survival—she allows herself to grieve and then move forward.
- Friendship and Betrayal: While the snack more directly concerns Amy and Cameron, its final sharing with Gabby subverts the betrayal that permeates the ward. Gabby remains ignorant, but Amy’s willingness to share suggests a fragile re‑engagement with friendship.
Study Questions with Answers
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Why does Cameron choose Ring Dings to comfort Amy in Chapter 16?
Answer: Cameron knows Ring Dings are Amy’s favorite treat, and he uses the shared memory of their earlier connection (the first kiss after a pathology exam) to soften her resistance. The snack symbolizes his attempt to rebuild intimacy after their breakup. -
How does the meaning of the Ring Dings package change between Chapters 16 and 59?
Answer: In Chapter 16, the package is a hopeful offering, representing a chance at reconciliation. In Chapter 59, it becomes a grim identifier of Cameron’s body—the same object that once comforted Amy now marks his death. Amy’s retrieval of the package turns it into a relic of loss. -
What does Amy’s action of eating the last Ring Ding with Gabby in the parking lot reveal about her state of mind?
Answer: By offering one cake to Gabby and eating the other herself, Amy performs a silent goodbye to Cameron while maintaining a facade of normalcy. This duality reflects her internal conflict: she grieves deeply but cannot yet share the full truth with those close to her. -
How does the epilogue’s mention of Ring Dings reinforce the theme of unresolved past trauma?
Answer: Amy declares that nothing is better than Ring Dings, even a year later. The snack remains an unchanging point of reference in a changed life. This preference anchors her to the night Cameron died, showing that she has not fully processed the guilt and loss, despite outward progress.