Husbands

Lauren's array of husbands is symbolic of choice. No matter how many husbands she meets and discards, Lauren has no real consequences for her actions. Therefore, the husbands give her the illusion of freedom. The author uses them to explore the cons of contemporary dating culture.

Attic

Lauren's attic is symbolic of both freedom and entrapment. When Lauren discovers the attic's magical capabilities, she uses it to her advantage. She believes that disappearing her various husbands liberates her from her loneliness. However, the attic only grants her the illusion of liberty, and in fact traps her in an endless cycle of unhappy realities.

Flat

Lauren's flat is symbolic of identity. Because Lauren inherited the flat from her grandmother, she has always seen the place as home. She attaches herself to the location and struggles to part with it even when her life is going poorly. Her...