Storms and Rain
Just before her mother’s death, Ellen senses that there
is a terrible storm coming, foreshadowing the suffering to come.
This image of a storm and of rain appears throughout the book, namely
during her mother’s burial, when there is a severe rainstorm. Ellen
later wishes that her father will be struck by lightning. These
images of storm and rain are symbolic of pain and suffering, as
they always appear in conjunction with grief.
The Ocean
The ocean represents an almighty power and control, as
is evident when Ellen wonders if her grandmother has ever seen the
ocean. Immediately, she knows she has not, as such a self-righteous,
controlling woman would be humbled to have witnessed the ocean’s powerful
and awful force. Ellen finds the ocean particularly intriguing,
as it is so mysterious in its immense depth, and she finds similarity
in herself and such a brooding force—she feels as though she is churning
inside, as the mighty ocean does.
The Cat Painting
Unlike her paintings of the brooding ocean, Ellen’s cat
painting is symbolic of shallowness and vanity on the part of Dora
and Nadine. The painting is not to Ellen’s taste, and, though she
knows Dora and Nadine will think the cats are cute, she personally
would much rather paint something with significance. The painting
of the cats carries no meaning and no emotion, both of which are
very important to Ellen, and, thus, it symbolizes the shallowness
and importance of pleasant appearances that underlie many of her
opponents.
