Symbol : Sheba's Pottery Figure
Sheba is working on a pottery figure that turns out to be reminiscent of her and Connolly; the female figure is made on her image and is bending protectively over the figure of a male as he lies across her knees. The figures are symbolic of how Sheba views the relationship with the figures clearly meant to be star crossed lovers and their positioning one that suggests something deeply romantic. The actual making of the figures is also a symbol of Sheba's obsession with the relationship as she chooses to see it and the fact that even as her court case is approaching her mind is still filled with thoughts of her forbidden lover.
Allegory : Romeo and Juliet
Sheba does not see her relationship with Connolly in the same way that others do; to her it is an allegory of Romeo and Juliet, as she believes that she and Connolly were deeply in love and were tragic figures unable to continue their relationship due to family pressures and a conflict of their life circumstances. To get the seedy series of liaisons is something much more Shakespearean and takes on a romantic significance in her mind that was not really there.
Symbol : The Connolly's Three-Piece Suite
To Sheba the three piece suite in the Connolly family's front room symbolizes not just the working class but also the stereotype of the working class. The furniture is almost so symbolic of their class that it is almost an ironic joke to Sheba.
Symbol : Connolly's Bedroom Curtains
Connolly has curtains that feature pictures of racing cars on them and these are clearly the curtains he grew up with. The childishness of the decor and the obvious fact that the curtains were purchased by his parents is symbolic of Connolly's youth and proximity to his childhood; although in life no longer a boy but a young man, the curtains symbolize his childishness and also the fact he has really not left it behind yet.
Motif : Sheba and Barbara's Class Differences
Class is a theme throughout this book but the motif of the class divide between Varbara and Sheba repeats often in the novel. Barbara states on several occasions that she has never met any other upper class people and she seems to have rather a problem with the concept of the upper classes as she takes issue with Sheba's choice to send her children to private school. She also makes several references to the way in which upper classes tend to be very forthright when talk about sex. She observes that "like people of her class" she seems to have the opinion she is street smart. Whilst class is a theme in the book the specific motif of the class differences between Barbara and Sheba is a constant motif and actually influences what happens in the book between their characters in away that affects the events that occur.
