The Furniture

The furniture symbolizes the messy entanglements created by love, marriage, and family relationships. The legal ownership of the furniture remains somewhat unclear throughout the story, as it had technically belonged to Marcelle, and in the wake of her death, it is unclear whether it belongs to Ken or McCauley. This dynamic parallels the uneasy social and economic circumstances between these two characters.

The Dress

The dress that Johanna buys symbolizes her aspirations for love and companionship. She buys the dress intending to wear it when she marries Ken. However, she realizes that in the letter that Ken wrote, he only implied a sense of love rather than address the idea of marriage. Johanna’s leap to the conclusion of marriage thusly illustrates her strong desire to be married.

The Letters

The fake letters that Sabitha and Edith write symbolize romantic confusion. While Edith and Sabitha...