The Winchester family
The Winchester family itself is a powerful symbol of wealth. Because of their status, the Winchesters are able to hire Millie to become their full-time, live-in maid, who is generally responsible for cleaning and taking care of the household. However, their wealth comes with pitfalls. Because of this, they are able to obscure their true nature and the nature of their abusive tendencies.
Millie
The novel's main character and protagonist is a symbol of a redemption story. After she was charged and served time in jail because of crimes she committed, Millie was given a second chance at life (and employment) by the Winchester family. The Winchesters are her saving grace; they could also be her downfall.
Nina's white dress
For Millie, Nina Winchester's ornate white dress symbolizes Millie's idealization of wealth. She sees the dress, which cost quite a bit of money, as a status symbol that she could only obtain in her dreams because of her background. In her mind, she could never hope to acquire something as beautiful.
The corrupting power of wealth
The Housemaid is an allegory for the corrupting power of wealth. Because of their wealth, the Winchester family was able to obscure their dastardly and cowardly acts. Had they not been wealthy, that would not have been possible. Ultimately, the novel warns that the accumulation of wealth can bring out the worst in people.
Millie uncovering secrets
Millie uncovering secrets is a prevalent motif throughout the novel. At first, Millie uncovers that Nina Winchester, the family's matriarch, lies about her own daughter for her own benefit and amusement. Significantly, though, she finds out that the Winchester family's patriarch is an abusive monster.
