Casy uses a symbol of greed to describe the country as being stuck until it's chopped loose. To which is he referring?

• A. Gila Monster
• B. Pit bull
• C. Tarantula
• D. Emperor Scorpion

Answer: (A)

Symbolism in the story uses natural imagery to critique social forces. Casy’s image of greed as a creature that clings to the land shows greed as a parasitic, binding power that keeps the country immobilized. The gila monster is a slow, venomous creature native to the region, suggesting something dangerous and invasive that takes hold and won’t let go. Saying the country is stuck until it’s chopped loose communicates that only by removing this greed-driven grip—the exploitation and hoarding of wealth and land—can movement and change occur for the people.

The other options don’t fit this specific idea as well. A pit bull represents aggression and protectiveness more than a creeping, clingy force; tarantulas and emperor scorpions convey danger or fear but don’t capture greed as a social parasite tied to the land in the same way. So the gila monster best matches the metaphor Casy uses to critique how greed traps society and how breaking that hold could free everyone to move forward.