“I read once that there are holes in the universe that swallow all light, all bodies. St. Jerome’s took all the light from my world” (Wagamese ,43)
Humans don’t have any specific definition for darkness. They explain the darkness by removing the light. That’s why the black holes are called black, because even the light can’t run away from their gravity. In this quote, Wagamese is describing St. Jerome’s as a hole which no one can run away from. “Light” is the symbol of hope and life which the school is trying to destroy. Using the “hole” as a metaphor for describing the school, I believe Wagamese is trying to show the school’s meaningless purpose exactly like the black holes. They are solid, black, and men cannot see anything. No life, no hope, and no reason. He even mentions the “bodies” that the hole can swallow which I think is a symbol for all those kids who close their eyes forever because of the school. Saul had a wild, beautiful life before the school but St. Jerome’s just makes it disappear. People are usually scared of darkness because they can’t find their way until they find the light to show them the world. Not having light in one’s life means they are lost in their fears and hopelessness like being in St. Jerome’s.
