Coyotes

Throughout the novel, the coyotes surrounding Joan's Topanga Canyon home symbolize danger. The coyotes most frequently appear when they smell blood, even the blood from Joan's and Eleanor's menstrual psyches. The coyotes are a symbolic manifestation of Joan's nearly perpetual fear. Because of her childhood trauma, she knows to anticipate gruesome events in her life. In the scene where she throws the fetus at the coyotes to save Kurt, she effectively dispels her fear and constant sense of danger.

Mariapia's Belongings

Ever since her mother's death, Joan has carried around her belongings. These mementos are a symbol of the past. Although Joan had a fraught relationship with her mother, she sees these belongings as her one remaining connection to her. Yet throughout the novel, Joan does not open the boxes containing these mementos, thus illustrating her fear of confronting the past.

Corpse Pose

Repeatedly throughout the...