Convent is an allegory of agony.
The author allegorically uses the convent to represent girls’ suffering at the hands of the nuns. When Furlong listens to the tribulations of the young girl who asked him to help her escape, he realizes that the convent symbolizes doom because the nuns did the contrary to societal expectations. The nuns in the convent are using girls to run their laundry business. Similarly, the girls dislike the menial jobs in the convent. Therefore, the convent that is supposed to be a heaven for the girls turns out to be a place of agony and mischief.
The symbolism of humanity
Furlong symbolizes humanity in the novel because he is dedicated to helping others. Furlong's compassionate heart manifests itself when he insists on helping the girls to get their rights. For instance, Furlong risks his business with the convent when he confronts the nuns and asks them to explain why they are subjecting girls to suffering because that contradicts the mission of their humanitarian services to society. Furlong believes that despite the convent being his biggest client, he must remind them that doing the right thing should be their guiding principle.
The symbolism of insensitivity
Eileen symbolizes insensitivity. Instead of taking the issue of the suffering girls seriously, Eileen jokes that the girls who want to escape the convent have issues with their sexual desires. According to Eileen’s joke, the girls need fire to warm themselves like other girls. However, the reality is different because Furlong’s interpretation is that the girls in the convent are subjected to child labor and other forms of suffering.
