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Tim Winton uses symbolism and narrative technique effectively to explore the issue of faith in Cloudstreet. Winton explores the symbol of the knife through the Lambs faith whereas he uses the shifty shadow to show the Pickles faith. He portrays the river as the place where faith is both gained and lost and that the Black Fella helps the characters build their faith. Winton shows that everyone needs a faith something to believe in, even if it is a knife or a superstition. Winton also explore faith effectively through the narrative voice of Spiritual Fish. Winton uses the symbol of the knife effectively to explore the Lambs faith in his novel. At the beginning of the novel the knife replaces the Lambs strong faith in God, this happens when Fish nearly drowns their faith dies and they hold God responsible for their tragedy. The Lambs use the knife as a decision maker they spin the knife to decide on significant and insignificant issues. The children use the knife to decide things like who washes up or who has pimples, they see it as a bit of fun, but still to them “the Knife never lies” (Winton, 1991, pg 53). Lester uses the knife to make more important decisions that he and Orial can’t make for themselves. An example of this is when Lester comes up with the idea of turning the front room into a shop. When he and Orial can’t come to an agreement “We’ll pray about it, he says automatically.