Clothing

Throughout the novel, Mellors uses the characters' choices of attire to symbolize their differences. This is most apparent in the description of Frank's and Cleo's wedding attire. Rather than a tradition white dress, Cleo denounces the purity the color usually represents, and decides on a cheap blue slip from a secondhand store. Cleo feels insecure about the dress, which speaks to her insecurity about her economic status. Franks shows up donning a three-piece suit and top hat, representing his extravagance and need for attention. Together, their outfits clash and symbolize the fact that they are not a proper match.

The Sugar Glider

Franks buys Cleo a sugar glider as a pet to offset her loneliness, and the fate of the sugar glider symbolizes the fate of their relationship. Cleo uses the sugar glider as a distraction from unhappiness, which is the same way she uses Frank...