What does the narrator's apartment represent in the novel, Whereabouts?

The narrator's apartment is the physical representation of her solitude, as she lives alone and spends much of her time there. The narrator is rather particular about her space, as evidences by the fact that she no longer reads on the couch after her friend's child marks on it with a pen.

This attentiveness to order in her own life represents the care that she takes to tend to her solitude. The symbolism continues into the end of the novel as she packs up the apartment, representing her willingness to step outside of a life of solitude and accept the fellowship. The narrator also enjoys her apartments balcony which overlooks the street, offering her a comprehensive yet detached view of the lives of those around her.