Hole in the Floor

The hole in the floor of William's house—caused by the massive weight of his accumulated literature—is a symbol of the ways in which William's hangups about his literary career have plunged his household into darkness and failure. As the repairman notes, the collections of books on the house's second floor are bound to cause "terrible strain," a double-edged statement that refers to the literal weight of the books on the house's floor and the weight of the books in the lives of the house's residents alike.

Frances' Dress

The dresses that Frances leaves behind (including her wedding gown) become a symbol of the classism of Eliza and Frances' daughters as soon as Sarah begins wearing them, as well as the ways in which women are materially attached to men during this period of history. Each of the women who expected to...