The epistolary symbol
The sending of letters is clearly an instance of symbol in this novel, especially for the character Chris who longs to be understood. The letters become a form of therapy for her, as she explores her feelings as if she is sharing them with the ideal recipient. The letters are a symbol for communication, for her struggle to validate her point of view in her marriage, and eventually, they are a symbol for her self, because she ends up imagining Dick to be a man that he is not.
The archetypal arc
There comes an important moment in the plot when Chris begins to tell her story for real. She starts by explaining her life in terms of her generations. This is evidence that she is starting to explore the archetypal value of her story, because she is framing her life in its narrative context of fathers and forefathers. Then, her mistreatment and abuse set her on a path toward feminism and self-discovery. Broadly, she feels trapped by the patriarchy that shapes her life on all levels.
Sexual fascination
The sexual desire that emerges between Chris and Dick is misplaced and misguided, so it is better viewed as a symbol for Chris's own sexuality. She longs to be adventurous and wild in her sex, and she wants to be free from the societal limitations of sex that restrict her to one partner whom she doesn't enjoy (because he doesn't celebrate her as a person). Her thirst for a passionate affair is a thirst for life and adventure. This can be seen as a symbol for tantra.
The motif of self-actualization
The novel explains through epistolary form how important self-actualization is to Chris at the subconscious level. She tells stories about her growth as a person, her childhood in her father's house, her desires entering marriage, her love for life—all pointing to the maximization of her own potential. This motif illustrates the ways that her life has become squished by fate. She feels pigeon-holed and restricted.
Dick's symbolic distance
If Dick had accepted Chris's invitations to intimacy, perhaps Chris's point of view might have been validated, but he doesn't feel the chemistry that she thought he would. Therefore the distance is a symbol that Chris has a need that is being projected through the letters (almost literally). Dick isn't interested in her. She wishes he were, but really, the plot falls within the category of delusional fantasy. This is a fictitious portrait of insanity, because she feels so trapped in her life that she dreams of escaping. It invites the reader to question whether what she experiences is really Love for Dick.
