Balloon

The balloon represents fun, adventure and hope, a departure from all that is boring. Asta gets a great deal of enjoyment by playing with the balloon. Chasing it with the innocent delight of a puppy, the dog runs around the room in circles. For Asta, the balloon represents a diverting alternative to lazing around the room and watching the humans. When the balloon bursts, Asta looks around longingly for a moment and then returns to normal everyday life.

Nora sympathizes with Asta because she has also taken a fancy to an invisible balloon of sorts: her hope that Nick will carry her away from her boring life of endless shops and parties and show her some real adventure. When Nick continues to deny her requests to work on Wynant's case, Nora feels that her balloon has been burst as well. All she can do is sit around and...