A Town Called Solace

Moses, Mrs. Orchard’s cat, is an important symbol in the book, representing stability and a sense of home. Moses’s role in the story helps to illustrate The Search for Solace and Understanding for both Clara and Liam.

Mrs. Orchard entrusts Clara with Moses’s care when she goes to the hospital, and this is what brings Clara and Liam into contact with each other, as Clara continually sneaks into the house to feed Moses. Moses is a source of comfort for Clara, who feels less anxious when she plays with Moses and he purrs in her lap. Caring for Moses gives Clara a sense of routine and stability, helping her to feel that she has at least one outlet for her pent-up emotions.

Moses also represents the solace that Liam is seeking and eventually finds. Although Moses avoids Liam for most of the book—just as Liam initially avoids connecting with others in the town—his presence is a constant in the house, ensuring that Liam is never actually alone. Significantly, Liam finally meets Moses at the very end of the book, when he finally decides to stay on in Solace. This symbolizes how Liam is now a permanent fixture in both Solace and Clara’s life, finally warranting Moses’s trust.