"Life can only be understood backwards, but we have to live it forwards."
Memoir of a Snail - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Snails
Snails symbolize Grace's emotional state and her way of coping with the world. Their shells represent the protective barrier she erects around herself, retracting when faced with trauma. The spiral on the snail's shell is a visual motif for life coming full circle. Furthermore, snails can only move forward, not backward, which ties into the film's central theme of the necessity of moving on from the past.
Grace's obsession with snails begins as a connection to her deceased mother. It evolves into a compulsive hoarding of snail-themed objects, which fill her home and isolate her. Ultimately, she must let go of her snail collection to break free from her self-imposed cage and move forward in her life.
The Snail Beanie
The snail beanie knitted by her father is a symbol of parental love and her unique identity. It's a tangible connection to the brief happiness of her childhood and a reminder of her family's encouragement to embrace her differences.
Grace wears the beanie throughout much of her life. Significantly, when she decides to purge her hoard and start anew, it is the one snail-related item she chooses to keep, signifying that she is not erasing her past but integrating it into her new, healthier life.
Hoarding
Grace's hoarding is a physical manifestation of her grief and trauma. The clutter in her home mirrors the emotional turmoil within her. It is a coping mechanism, a way of filling the void left by the loss of her family.
After being separated from Gilbert, Grace's collecting of snail memorabilia spirals into an obsessive hoard that takes over her life. Her decision to burn her collection is a pivotal moment in her character arc, symbolizing her liberation from the weight of her past.
Philosophical Questions
Can we truly move forward without reconciling with our past?
The film deeply explores this question through Grace's journey. Her hoarding of snails is a clear attempt to hold onto her past, specifically her connection to her mother and brother. She is emotionally stagnant until she confronts this past, symbolized by the act of burning her collection. The film suggests that while we must live life forwards, as the Kierkegaard quote advises, that forward motion is only possible after a meaningful, and often painful, process of understanding and making peace with what came before.
To what extent do we create our own prisons?
Pinky's letter to Grace explicitly states, 'The worst cages are the ones we create for ourselves.' Grace's house, filled with her hoard, becomes a literal and metaphorical cage that protects her from the outside world but also prevents her from living. The film posits that while trauma may be inflicted upon us by external forces, our response to that trauma—the fears we internalize and the limitations we place on ourselves—can be the most significant barrier to our own happiness and freedom.
Core Meaning
The central message of "Memoir of a Snail" is about embracing life's imperfections and finding the resilience to move forward, no matter how slowly, in the face of trauma and grief. Director Adam Elliot explores the idea that we are all, in some way, flawed and 'lumpy,' and that there is beauty and strength in our brokenness.
The film delves into the psychological underpinnings of hoarding as a coping mechanism for loss and loneliness. It champions the underdog and the misfit, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, connection, friendship, and self-acceptance can provide a path to healing. Ultimately, it's a story about learning to let go of the past that cages us and understanding that, like a snail, we can only live life by moving forwards.