Beauty shop

Jerome's wife owns and runs a successful beauty shop. It is her source of pride, superiority, and source of money.

Jerome's books

Jerome's books on black power and the black revolution. At first, Jerome's wife views them as "light reading." At the end she realizes they are Jerome's true interest and passion. The books symbolize knowledge and power. Jerome's wife has no education and can't begin to comprehend what the books are even about. She realizes she is inferior. In her impotent outrage, she burns the books and the fire ends up consuming her as well.