 How can the description the protagonist’s eyes as “aflame” be understood as symbolic?
Then both man and horse plunged headlong into the waiting torrent, deep into the cool embrace of the clear liquid. Refreshed and momentarily content, he sat staring into the dying fire, seeing the bright glowing coals as living fingers clutching at the wood in consuming embrace, taking all and returning nothing but ashes. Images began to appear, drawn from inexhaustible files, wherein are kept all thoughts, past, present, and future.... Three days later they had landed in Spain, merged with another division, then crossed the Pyrenees into France, and finally to Paris where the fighting had begun. The Russians had not yet used the H-bomb; the threat of annihilation by the retaliation forces had been too great.
 It is symbolic for his drive to return home to his wife.
 It is symbolic for his drive to win the war.  It is symbolic for his drive to find shelter.  It is symbolic for his drive to return home to his wife.  It is symbolic for his drive to cross the Rio Grande.