Fur Coat

Fur coats symbolize traditional notions of femininity. When Sophie marries, both her father-in-law and Ezra insist that Sophie receive a fur coat. Sophie does not want the fur coat, and she only wears it to please her husband. The fur coat happens to be one of many items that Ezra gives to Sophie whenever he tries to please her (14-5), suggesting that Ezra has a materialist and superficial understanding of women's desires and needs. Sophie tries to resist receiving the fur coat, asking instead for a longer honeymoon (14). Sophie's mother also assumes that she desires fur coats (135). The fur coat highlights the difference between Sophie's reserved and contemplative nature versus her mother's hyper-femininity.

Traveling

Traveling is symbol for Sophie's feeling of detachment and rootlessness. Sophie has no stable, permanent home when she lives her itinerant life with Ezra, and this consistent with how Sophie has...