The Picture of a Chained Man

The picture of a man chained to a door represents protest. It stirs something in Yessenia when she sees it, which is part sexual and part psychological. He is an attractive man, but what attracts her is his stance. He has a fierce expression in a moment of defiance. This feeling of protest grows within her through the course of the story, and eventually she becomes the person chained to an inanimate object in protest.

Mia's Motorized Wheelchair

Mia's motorized wheelchair represents autonomy. The old chairs represented the staff's unwillingness to give them independence. She used to need Teddy to tow her around. Now, with the new chair, she feels like she can make more of her own decisions. The fact that it is pink and pretty lets her feel girly. It seems like it is an accessory in addition to...