The Photograph

The photograph of Silas, Bernice, and their mother that Bernice keeps in the apartment symbolizes hope. For Silas, the photograph showcases their mother's strength and sense of presence. For Bernice, the photograph is her connection to her mother, who in the present does not approve of her marriage to Dove. Bernice brings the photograph to her wedding as a way of having her mother with her, distorting the reality of the situation and leading her further into the past.

Bernice's Books

Bernice's books symbolize an attempt to heal. Silas interprets Bernice's pursuit of scholarship as a coping mechanism; he thinks she is reading so much so that she can distract herself from her declining relationship and the other obstacles in her life. However, the story suggests that Bernice's reading is connected to her own feelings of not being heard. She attempts to learn about the...