Queenie’s Miscarriage

Queenie's miscarriage, which she experiences without even knowing she was pregnant, represents the death of her relationship with Tom, and of her hopes that it will last; of her faith that he will continue to support her as she struggles with what she calls her "stuff"; and her more distant hopes that they will have children together. The miscarriage also represents the first in a chain of events that defines Queenie's struggle with mental illness, a struggle that, in turn, leads to an eventual breakdown.

The Coffee Mugs

The two coffee mugs owned by Queenie and Tom (one marked with a "Q", one marked with a "T") represent their relationship at its most comfortable and its most safe. When Tom brings Queenie tea in the T-mug, instead of in the Q-mug, it represents how he is starting to be less engaged in the relationship...