Importance of Lily's Locket

During periods of anxiety, Lily rubs "her locket like a worry stone" (90). It is a symbol of her connection to her son. Her locket also represents a source of comfort for her during trying times. When Lily cannot be with Samuel, she relies on her locket to act as a connecting thread to him, the ultimate source of accomplishment and joy in her life. As Lily wears her locket at all times it acts as a manifestation of Samuel, sitting next to her heart, when they are apart from each other.