The Sparrow

Gardens are symbolic of both hope and devastation in The Sparrow. The idea that Rakhat is akin to the Garden of Eden is first alluded to when the crewmembers step foot on the planet. Just like Adam and Eve, the humans name the new plants and animals and feel full of hope and close to God as they are welcomed by their beautiful new world. In fact, most of the crewmembers believe that it is because of God that they are on Rakhat in the first place. However, it is an actual garden that leads to the human’s fall on Rakhat.

Eager to plant their own garden and grow their own food, the humans take matters into their own hands without consulting the Runa, just as Adam and Eve ate of the fruit without consulting God. The increased food sources enabled the Runa to procreate, which in turn led to their babies being murdered by the Jana’ata. This not only got most of the crewmembers killed when they attempted to save the babies, but it also led to Emilio and Marc’s imprisonment.

In this way, gardens not only symbolize hope for things to come and the end, but more specifically, they represent hope in God and the end of faith. This is seen through Emilio, who sees Rakhat, like the Garden of Eden, as the closest he’s ever been to God, just like Adam and Eve are intimately connected to God in Eden. But once things fall apart, as when Adam and Eve are cast out of the garden, Emilio no longer feels like he has contact with God.