Polly the Plant
To Eleanor, Polly the Plant symbolizes her dead younger sister, Marianne, who died in the house fire that Mummy started in an attempt to kill her two daughters. Caring for Polly is Eleanor’s…
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Fire
Fire symbolizes Eleanor’s past. At the literal level, fire reminds Eleanor of her mother’s final act of violence against Eleanor and her sister, Marianne. When Eleanor was 10 years old, Mummy set…
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Animals
Animals symbolize the antithesis of social norms and expectations—areas in which Eleanor feels unnatural and incompetent. Animals are a recurring presence in Eleanor’s offkey thoughts and observations. When Eleanor evokes animals in these types of…
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