Will

Will represents Frida’s need to be desired by men. At the start of the novel, loneliness and a need for validation drives Frida to Will’s bed. By the novel’s end, Frida loses the part of herself that cares about male attention, making Will lose his place in her life.

Susanna

To Frida, Susanna symbolizes all the desirable qualities Frida no longer possesses: youth, beauty, and excitement. Frida believes it is these characteristics that make Susanna Gust’s ideal partner. Susanna is also a living symbol of the destruction of Gust and Frida’s marriage.

The Bread Shrine

The “bread shrine” Frida and her friends build at Meryl’s seat symbolizes the mothers’ sense of camaraderie (265). Devastated, Meryl skips breakfast after receiving a poor prognosis. By leaving Meryl a pile of bread, the mothers show that they are thinking of her. This action is...