Le Petit Cottage

Le Petit Cottage, or the name for the Guilbert plantation, is a representation of the family’s legacy. It is an opulent place that shows the immense wealth that Sylvie and her husband gained over the years even outside of France. However, just as the family begins to lose their good fortune, they also lose the plantation. Once Sylvie is forced to let go of traditions and Lucien is unable to hold onto his dreams, they must move on. The cottage is left to those who have been toiling over it for years. The family loses their wealth, their status, and everything that allowed them to feel comfortable as they were.

The Family Gold

The sack of family gold that Sylvie keeps from Lucien throughout the novel is representative of the family’s future. In the beginning as Sylvie refuses to reveal where she...