The Sunlight Zone

In Our Wives Under the Sea, Armfield utilize the Sunlight Zone, the first layer of the ocean, as a symbol for the emotional levity at the beginning of Mari and Leah’s relationship. In the same manner that the Sunlight Zone supports diverse life forms, human swimmers, and is filled with color, the couple was happy and emotionally connected when they began dating. Their partnership started with happiness and a shared love of cinema.

The Neighbor's Television

Throughout the novel, the author utilizes the neighbor’s television as a symbol for time. When Miri is in the apartment, she hears the television shift from soap operas to game shows. In the same manner that the programming changes every hour, her relationship with Leah continues to shift the longer they are together. While they are still a couple when Leah returns from her expedition, the...