The Letters

The letters Joy and Jack share are symbols of their shared interests and the means by which they become first friends and then lovers. The letters Joy writes to Bill, Renee, Davy, and Douglas symbolize how much Joy misses her family, though she desperately needs the time in England. A letter Jack writes to Davy is a symbol of his affection for Joy's son, even though they have not yet met at that time.

Joy's Suitcases and Trunks

When Joy travels, the suitcases and trunks symbolize traveling to great adventures, health, and happiness. When Joy and the boys move to England permanently, their meager possessions are packed into a relatively small space, which symbolizes how little they own.

Gardens and Woods

Gardens and woods symbolize the draw of nature to Joy. She greatly loves to be outside, studies nature through books and through being outside...