Acting and the Theater

Acting and the theater are symbols of the difference between appearance and reality. As a child, Norah must constantly negotiate whether her mother's behavior is a performance or a sincere expression of her maternal relationship towards her. For all the characters in the novel who act—Norah's grandfather, Katherine, Phillip Greenfield—there is never a clear line where their stage persona ends and their true identity begins. Acting calls into question the legitimacy of expressions of grief. Katherine's reaction to Norah losing her virginity is so theatrically over the top that Norah can hardly take her seriously. And at Katherine's funeral, Norah emphasizes what convincing expressions of grief were displayed by the actors and actresses in attendance.

Death

Death is a symbol for release and freedom, but also power. Katherine's death frees her from a life that was in many ways not even...