The nautilus is used as a metaphor for the human spirit by the poem's speaker, who emphasizes that its example delivers a "heavenly message" of how people should grow and evolve throughout their lives. The last stanza also alludes to the Christian belief in an afterlife with both joy and pain associated with it. In addition to being a source of food, the nautilus has other uses for its shell. It can serve as a container for holding items such as pearls or jewels, which are valuable but fragile. The nautilus also uses its shell as a musical instrument by scraping away at it with its teeth to create sound. Last, but not least, the nautilus shells are used by humans as currency because they are easy to trade for other goods and services. So the ultimate message we can learn from the chambered nautilus is that even though we come from simple beginnings, we can still reach for the stars if we try hard enough. This idea is echoed in the last line of the poem where the speaker urges others to follow his example so that they, too, can deliver a "heavenly message on earth". Furthermore, the nautilus shows that even though we will experience loss, there is hope for future happiness since the nautilus returns to the sea after dying.