Florida

Florida is an imaginary place first introduced by Father. He describes it as a lush utopia where it is always warm and where sweet, ripe fruits are found in great abundance. After Father's death, Florida becomes an imaginary place of refuge for Mother and Alice. When Mother is sent to the "San," Alice sometimes describes Mother's stay there as "Mother's Florida." Here, Florida takes on a slightly different meaning because it is not utopia at the "San." Insofar as the "San" is a place of refuge from the harshness of reality, there is a minimal sense in which the 'San' serves as Mother's "Florida."

The San

The "San" is the mental asylum to which Mother is sent when Alice is 10 years old.

Tucson

Uncle Billy and Aunt Frances keep a vacation home in Tucson, Arizona. While Alice lives with Uncle Billy and Aunt Frances, she takes annual...