"God help me. I can still feel her mouth."
This quote appears in a scene where Isabel reflects on her tumultuous feelings towards Eva. It captures a moment of intense emotional and physical turmoil as Isabel grapples with her obsessive attraction to Eva. The use of the phrase "God help me" suggests a plea for divine intervention, which underscores the depth of Isabel's inner conflict and the moral weight of her feelings. This statement underlines the central theme of forbidden desire that runs throughout the novel. Isabel’s invocation of God reveals her internal struggle between her intense feelings for Eva and the societal or personal constraints she feels are imposed upon her. The physical sensation of "still feeling her mouth" indicates that the encounter with Eva has left a lingering impact. It symbolizes the blurring of boundaries between her internal world and external reality. Thus, it illustrates how deeply personal desires can intrude upon one's sense of self and moral compass. This tension examines how personal obsessions and forbidden desires can disrupt one's sense of order.
"I think she would inhale me if she could. I think she'd crawl herself inside of me if she thought that’s where she’d find something that I’ve kept hidden from her."
The statement is from Isabel’s thoughts about Eva reflecting the invasive nature of their relationship. It emerges from Isabel’s sense of invasion and obsession, as she feels Eva’s presence is overwhelming. Isabel perceives Eva’s intrusion as an emotional and psychological invasion. The metaphor suggests that Eva’s presence is so intense that it disrupts Isabel’s sense of self and privacy. It speaks to the novel’s themes of boundaries and identity, which shows how Eva’s proximity forces Isabel to confront hidden parts of herself. The language implies a loss of control as if Eva’s influence could consume Isabel completely. It highlights the novel's exploration of how deeply relationships can affect one's inner life.
"A house is a precious thing."
This quotation reflects the novel’s focus on the physical and emotional significance of the house Isabel inhabits. The house, inherited from her mother, represents Isabel’s connection to her past and her struggle to control her life. As such, the statement emphasizes the emotional value Isabel attaches to the house. It is not merely a structure but a repository of memories, family history, and personal identity. For Isabel, the house embodies her security and belonging, but it also represents the burden of maintaining a legacy and the isolation that comes with it. The house reflects Isabel’s internal conflicts and her attempt to preserve the past while navigating the present. It encapsulates the novel's central theme of how physical spaces can hold significant emotional weight. The house is a representation of Isabel’s emotional state—familiar yet fraught with unresolved tensions.
