Music

Throughout the narrative, music represents the best part of Marlena. Several times, she is described as having a very engaging voice and performance style, while her connection to the work of other artists such as Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks is one of the initial, and healthiest, ways in which she and Cat connect. As Marlena becomes increasingly addicted to drugs, her love of music dissipates.

Cigarettes and Smoking

For both Cat and Marlena, cigarettes and smoking represent perhaps the easiest means they have of rebelling and establishing what they think is their own identities, as individuals and as friends. On another level, and because smoking has been scientifically proven to be unhealthy, their constant smoking can be seen as symbolizing their individual, and shared, tendencies towards self-destructive behavior. This leads, in turn, to the third level of meaning to the symbol of smoking - it...