Calvin’s dress shirts

Calvin’s dress shirts, which hang unworn after his death, symbolize his absence from Elizabeth’s life. Seeing the dress shirts forces Elizabeth to acknowledge that he is not returning to her. It kickstarts her grieving process as she must decide which shirt to dress him in for the funeral.

Madeline’s legal name

Madeline’s legal name, Mad, symbolizes her mother’s rage at Calvin’s passing. The nurse mistakenly interprets Elizabeth’s description of her emotions postpartum for the name she desires for her child.

Miss Frask

Miss Frask represents one way women deal with oppression: by competing against their sex. Miss Frask does her utmost to oust Elizabeth from Hastings in the hopes of currying favor with her superiors. The fact that this plan backfires shows how the novel advocates for women to support one another, not tear each other...