I enjoyed his money and he enjoyed how easily impressed I was by it.
-- Narrator (chapter 2)

Importance: Ava asserts that she and Julian are ideal for one another just weeks into their relationship. Because Ava does not feel financially stable or vocationally driven, she latches onto Julian. Proximity to his money and success grants her a sense of personal stability. Although she feels confident in their dynamic at this early juncture of the novel, this same power imbalance ultimately destabilizes Ava emotionally.

You could have no passions and also no stability.
-- Ava (chapter 4)

Importance: Because Ava does not believe in herself, she often makes underhanded, self-deprecating comments about herself. During a conversation with Julian about money, art, success, and passion, Ava makes the above remark. She is intentionally identifying her flaws before Julian can do so. Although she is joking, her words are revealing of her insecurity. She fears that she has no drive and no...