Symbolism of Blouse

The blouse in the story “Low Men in Yellow Coats” is a symbol of mistrust. Liz did not like Ted from the first time she met him even though she had no reason to dislike him besides the fact he had some of his things packed in shopping bags. When she arrives home after being beaten up by Mr. Biderman, she assumes that Ted hurt Carol. Her determination that Ted is Carol’s abuser seems focused on the blouse that Ted cut off Carol so that he could fix her shoulder. She insists that Ted tore the blouse off Carol even though Carol tells her that is not what happened and Bobby shows her that the blouse was cut.