In a sense of shelter by john updike various symbols are used to emphasize the overall theme of comfort and express the gradually depressing mood the author uses bad weather a familiar desk and a familiar school as symbolic objects within the story to display these ideas updike strategically places these symbols throughout the story . Symbols in a sense of shelter in a sense of shelter by john updike various symbols are used to emphasize the overall theme of comfort and express the gradually depressing mood the author uses bad weather a familiar desk and a familiar school as symbolic objects within the story to display these ideas. In aaa sense of shelteraa by john updike various symbols are used to emphasize the overall theme of comfort and express the gradually depressing mood the author uses bad weather a familiar desk and a familiar school as symbolic objects within the story to display these ideas. In a sense of shelter by john updike various symbols are used to emphasize the overall theme of comfort and express the gradually depressing mood the author uses bad weather a familiar desk and a familiar school as symbolic objects within the story to display these ideas