This story the two pictures above Paul's bed are symbolic. On the surface, it is noted in the story that his mother had framed these pictures with the quote "feed my lambs,"and she is now dead. These pictures are all he has of her and they symbolize. He however has grown to hate the pictures.
The theme of predestination is symbolized by the picture of John Calvin who was a famous theologian. The idea that our lives are predetermined from birth and nothing we do can change the way things will happen to us is evident in the way that Paul looks at his life. He feels that he is meant to live differently than his life circumstances have him living. According to Calvin, Paul's suicide was predetermined at his birth.
George Washington is a symbol of honesty and truth. He is a symbol of all that was "right" in American. Paul lied, cheated and stole his way off of Cordelia Street. Paul believed in "the American Dream," but was the exact opposite of what Washington symbolized.
Paul decided he would rather die than be taken back to the mundane life of no money, music, art and the finer things in life. He at one point realizes "money is everything." To live in Washington's America you need money, but Calvin would say Paul didn't have a choice.
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