Use of Symbolism in Pat Barker's Regeneration

How does Pat Barker use symbolism in the novel Regeneration to explore the theme of emasculation?

The theme emasculation appears several times throughout the novel Regeneration in variety of forms. Barker’s exploration of emasculation in the novel challenges traditional notions of manliness, showing war as a possible “feminine” experience. Pat Barker is bringing to attention that the atrocities suffered at war are making the soldiers unmanly as they’re facing shell shock and trauma. There are many situations in the novel where emasculation is expressed, where there is loss of power, masculinity, deprive of the male role and identity has taken place.
Andersons dream is a part of Regeneration where an emasculating experience occurs, which could have happened because he has been rejected or mocked by many for breaking down at war and has been sent to a hospital to recover. It was seen that men who broke down, cried or admitted fear were sissies, weaklings, failures and not men, therefore for this was an explanation for his dream. Anderson was being chased by his father in law in his dream whilst in his uniform, so this could suggest Anderson is going to be looked down at for being ill by his father in law because it’s a manly thing going to war fighting for your country not a situation where you crash and burn. Also there was a snake hissing at him from his father in law, therefore this could be a sign of jealousy within their relationship, Anderson may feel that he is a weaker male compared to other males and he wants to be the dominating male not the man who has lost all connection from his manly side. Other parts in Andersons dream which showed emasculation is when he explains how he was tied up with ladies corsets, this may have occurred because he feels feminine because he is suffering and he doesn’t feel like that hero he should for being at war he feels like a coward. However Barkers view point within the novel with this is that, the men feel like the