In "The Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds, the gun symbolizes different concepts throughout the story, reflecting the protagonist's evolving understanding of violence, revenge, and decision-making.
From: A tool for revenge and control, representing power and a means to resolve conflict.
To: A symbol of internal conflict and the weight of choice, highlighting the consequences of violence and the burden of carrying a weapon in the context of a cycle of revenge.
As the protagonist, Will, grapples with the implications of using the gun, its meaning shifts from an immediate solution to problems to a representation of the complexity and gravity of his choices, leading him to question whether taking another life will ultimately lead to peace or further pain.
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