Joana and Otávio's House

Almost all of the scenes that show Joana and Otávio together take place inside their shared house. Much like Joana's childhood house, it is a still and quiet place, with Otávio working on writing from his home office just as Joana's father once worked on writing from his home office. The scene where Otávio asks Joana to fetch him a book on Civil Law (99) indicates the serious, scholarly nature of his work. Their quiet bedroom is described "a cocoon" (123).

Joana's aunt's house

Following her father's death, Joana moves in with her aunt and uncle, who live in a fancy house on the beach. The inside of the house is described this way: "The aunt's house was a refuge where the wind and the light didn't enter. The maid sat down with a sigh in the dismal entrance hall, where, among the...