The symbolic fan of idealism is a direct reference to the wings of Icarus, and
as such falls exquisitely into line with the symbolism of the novel. Icarus, we
recall, required wings to escape perishing in the Labyrinth, supporting Nostromo's
theme that Man needs idealism to survive the maze of bewildering metaphysical
chaos. Icarus was advised not to fly too close to the sun (in Nostromo,
disillusioning reality) or the sea (in Nostromo, anarchic liberty). Antonia's
Icarus fan is thus a little parable of idealism, in which Man must fly a middle
course between too little idealism (fatal disillusionment / skepticism) and too
much idealism (total submersion in one's own desire, leading to anarchic subjectivity).
Of course, Icarus does fly too close to the sun and so falls into the sea, foretelling
not only Decoud's fate on the island (Icarus, too, ended up on an island) but
also the larger political fate of the disillusioned and anarchic Sulaco in Part
Three.