The Lily Theater

The Lily Theater symbolizes the importance of art and creativity in particular communities. Both Olive and Aunt Peg are happy to keep the theater up and running to cater to their (mostly uneducated) audience, and it is the Lily that serves as a safe haven for a number of otherwise "misfit" people who would otherwise not fit in. This includes people like Vivian, new to New York City, but also the sexually free showgirls, homosexual performers, and eccentric people like Edna Parker Watson.

Martinis

Martinis symbolize both fun and danger in New York City, as Vivian kicks off her arrival with a martini in Aunt Peg's apartment and continues her drinking habits well into her friendship with Celia. Martinis are also what doom Aunt Peg to slip back into her alcoholism when Billy Buell arrives. As such, the presence of martinis throughout the novel...