Strength and Willpower

Although Jane is physically strong, Vandermeer challenges typical notions of strength through Jane's emotional development throughout the novel. While Jane is a strong, tall woman who frequently gets starred at for her large frame, but the author makes a clear distinction between physical strength and emotional strength and willpower. Jane is bruised, physically and emotionally, by her abusive grandfather, and as a young girl feels she needs to be physically strong to protect herself from him and gets into wrestling. This emotional shielding continued with Jane as grew older, and in university became a weightlifter which she saw as "putting on my armor, if it was the morning. Taking it off if evening" (30).

However, Vandermeer directly contrasts this strength with Jane's lack of willpower, as she is unable to control her impulses when it comes to the thrill of the unknown. When Jane meets...