How do the bigwigs answer the main characters question about the statues

as for symbolic actions, the narrator's tearing down the wallpaper in an attempt to find the "woman" in the wallpaper represents her struggle to retain or regain her sanity.   the wallpaper has been part of her confinement and by her tearing it down, she is freeing herself from that confinement.

wheres the following authors?

being surrounded by crimes, poverty, and failing schools as well as his own lack of confidence in his abilities.