Parents know best
One of the common motifs found in the story is the idea that parents know what is best for their children. This idea is used in the novel to argue why Amelia could not choose the man she wanted to marry.
All women are supposedly easy
Another common motif that can be found in the story is the idea that all women are easy and always want sex. This idea is widespread among the male characters and this is one of the main reasons why they always demand to be serviced sexually by the women they encounter on a day-to-day basis.
The rose garden
After moving to London, the narrator describes Amelia as often thinking about her life back home and her childhood home. Amelia fixates on a rose garden her mother used to care for and it is a place often mentioned when the young woman is unhappy. As such, we can argue that the rose garden is used here as a symbol of happiness and peace.
Grey linen
After Amelia and her husband move to London, they move inside a poor apartment in an unnamed city. The narrator describes the linen on the bed and portrays it as being extremely old and grey. The linen is an important element here and is used as a symbol that represents the family's low financial status.
Muddy streets
The city of London is always described in the story as being muddy and filled with garbage. The muddy streets are an important element here and are used as a symbol to make reference to the moral deprivation which exists in London.
