Symbols in Paul's Case

Refer back to the previous annotation on the "red pitcher". Paul's red carnation set him aside and made others make opinions of him. Now, this pitcher causes a similar reaction in the layman population of Cordelia street. 

Another reference to the motif of the color red. Its color elicited commentary from the Cordelia St. neighbors and, because of its uniqueness, was set out for the special serving of lemonade.

The carnations in "Paul's Case" seem to run a bad fate. All freshly cut, they seem to "*revolt against the homilies by which the world is run" (Ch.2) and die withered shortly after.
*Like the flower, Paul intends for a short time to live life against those very homilies (sermons) of life...and he also fades away.

The color red suggests depth (primary color), intensity (salient color used to warn others), wild behaviors, and the likelihood of not fitting in well with everything. The red motif comes up again in the form of the "fine pitcher" that the Cordelia St. neighbors laugh at precisely because of its colors. Red is symbolic of Paul's nature.