The symbol of the yellow skirt
The author uses a yellow skirt to represent Tamara's sense of maturity and passion. When Tamara dresses up for the festival, she does not just put on any dress, but the yellow skirt which makes her feel empowered, passionate, and successful. When she walks to the bus stop to catch bus number 4 headed to the festival, Tamara feels that she is not just an ordinary woman but a vivacious and zealous lady dressed in yellow. The author says, “She taps a sandaled foot lightly on the pavement, waiting for the number 4 bus, no longer just Tamara, clerk-receptionist for the Youth Employment Bureau, but a woman in a yellow skirt. A passionate woman dressed in yellow. A Passionate, Vibrant Woman About To Begin Her Day. Her Life. “Consequently, the yellow dress embodies Tamara's self-assurance, maturity, and passion.
The symbol of a Mango
Rodger, is a young man walking out of a grocery holding a mango in his hand. The author reveals to the reader that Roger had gone to the grocery to by an apple but he came out with a mango. Rodger has never bought or eaten a mango before and does not know how it is prepared before eating. The reader wonders why a man should buy something he has no idea of how to use it. The Mango represents Rogers' confusion and memories after his divorce. He does not know what to do with the mango but its heaviness reminds him of a first-class-league ball. The author writes, “He has never bought a mango before, never eaten one, doesn't know what a mango tastes like or how it's prepared. Cooked like a squash? Sliced and sugared like a peach? He has no intention of eating it, not now anyway, maybe never. Its weight reminds him of a first-class league ball, but larger, longer, smooth-skinned, and ripely green."
The metaphor of little plastic ski passes
The little plastic ski passes are used by the author metaphorically to represent Borden sisters’ behavior of showing off. These two sisters are still putting on their little plastic ski passes on the zip tags of their jackets whenever they are walking around town. The irony is that even when the sir is too hot, they just put on their jackets with the little ski passes to remind everyone that they toured the Skied Happy Mountain. No matter how uncomfortable it is, Sue and Karen put on their jackets to show off that they are fortunate than anyone else. The author provides a vivid description of the Borden sister’s behavior when she asks, “They’ve been back for a month now, in fact, so why are they still wearing those little plastic ski passes on the zipper tabs of their jackets?” Therefore, the reader comprehends that the primary intention of the Borden sisters is to show off.
The Symbol of Mrs. Winters’ Husband
Mrs. Winters is apprehensive after she publishes her first novel and the reviews bring her mixed reactions. She realizes that her books are selling very first but the reviews are not encouraging. Looking at most of the reviews, Mr. Scribano concludes that most of the Winters' publications are purchased by young working girls. Mrs. Winters is hurt by these words but she puts on a brave face. She thinks her novel is not attractive to a larger audience because it is only 200 pages. One of the New York Times Book Reviews says that Mrs. Winters' book is mysteriously attractive. Mrs. Winters is comforted by her husband that the New York Times Book Reviews’ comment is an accolade and encouraging her to continue with the good work she is doing. Mrs. Winters says, “My husband Tom advised me to take this as praise, his position being that all worthy novels pay close attention to the time in which they are suspended, and sometimes, years later, despite themselves, acquire a permanent luster.” Therefore, Winters’ husband is a symbol of hope in this novel because he encourages his wife not to give up.
The symbol of Bodies and their Routines
The author is tactical in the way she explains the pain of separation. In the ‘Dying for Love’ story, the narrator commences by asking the question, “My first thought this morning is for Beth, how on earth she’ll cope now that Ted’s left her for the dancer Charlotte Brown. I ask myself, what resources does a woman like Beth have, emotional resources? She uses Beth and Ted as a perfect example of how people get used to each other in marriage. When a man and wife sleep together, they adapt to each other's way of sleeping and other ways of doing other things. For instance, one adopts the sleeping posture, snarling and sleeping habits of the other partner. Unfortunately, now Ted is leaving Beth for another woman and the narrator is wondering how Beth is going to adopt sleeping on her own again. From the narrator's explanations, Beth is lonely and she is going to suffer losing her husband to another woman.
