Music and photography are Poppy’s and Rune’s hobbies, respectively, and they symbolize each character’s role vis-à-vis the novel’s theme of The Fleeting Nature of Life and the Importance of Memory. Poppy’s passion for the cello, and her love of music more broadly, represents the fleeting nature of her life. When Poppy thinks about music, she focuses on specific moments, such as the final note, the silence that comes after that note, or the crescendo of a piece. These elements of music last only a matter of seconds, but Poppy relishes them nonetheless. The transient, ephemeral nature of music mirrors Poppy’s mortality, and music becomes a symbol for the necessity of appreciating each moment of experience. The cello itself is also a symbol of Poppy’s love for music, as it is the literal instrument through which she expresses her passion.

Photography is a complementary symbol to music, as it embodies the opposite of transience: permanence. Rune’s talent for photography grants him the ability to turn moments of fleeting beauty into permanent memories and artifacts. Rune’s tradition of taking a photo of Poppy as soon as she finishes performing a piece illustrates the symbiotic nature of their hobbies and personalities.