Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library is filled with interesting symbolism as Nora Seed tries out various alternate lives that she might have had if she had made different choices.

The chessboard, for instance, and chess itself symbolize both comfort and life lessons. When Nora was young, she used to play chess with Mrs. Elm, the librarian. Mrs. Elm used the game to teach Nora some important realities about life, and those games were also comforting for Nora. They represent a time of enjoyment in her life and the support of an adult she could trust.

Fire is a symbol of rebirth and choice. In two of the alternate lives Nora tries, she writes a poem about fire. Nora can feel fire inside of her, and she wonders if it will “warm her or destroy her.” Fire can do either, but Nora must make the decision.

Swimming points to Nora’s relationship with her father. Their relationship was always strained, and Nora swam in an attempt to win her father's approval and love. In one of her alternate lives, she becomes a professional swimmer, but her motive is still to please her father.

Space symbolizes opportunity, the blank space of possibilities, and missed opportunity, the blank space of poor choices and things left unsaid. Space also provides room to grow and time to think. It may be a small thing, but as Mrs. Elm says, “Never underestimate the big importance of small things.”

Finally, the library symbolizes all the “what ifs” of Nora’s life. She has a chance to try out some of those alternatives. She can return to the library, which is also a place of safety, and the guidance and support of Mrs. Elm whenever she becomes dissatisfied with the alternative. The library also symbolizes Nora’s real life, for it begins to crumble as Nora’s body starts to die, and Nora must make a choice about what she really wants from her life.