Abandoned mill

The large and prominent abandoned mill in Bexley represents the poor, blue-collar nature of Bexley in the 1980's. This feature distinguishes Bexley from Connecticut's many wealthy towns, in the 21st century, that are lived in by wealthy commuters to New York City, such as Fiona's future home in Croton-on-Hudson.

Novels

In Fiona's childhood, reading novels represents her desire to escape from her dreary circumstances in Bexley. Fiona's interest in novels foreshadows her eventual status as a famous poet.

Ming-era Chinese ceramics

For Caroline, her college class' discussion on Ming-era Chinese ceramics represents the triviality of academic subjects, compared to the actually important nature of her pregnancy. Caroline's disinterest in academic subjects foreshadows her eventual split from her husband Nathan, who is a serious academic.

Pond/spoon game

A childhood game involving spoons in the Bexley pond represents the different siblings' connections to their childhoods. Fiona...