Photo

The photograph William discovers of his father at the Houlton library symbolizes the past. When William and Lucy travel to Maine together, they are venturing into the depths of William's past in order to discover new truths about his identity. Finding the photograph of Wilhelm teaches both William and Lucy about where William came from and the people who tangibly and subconsciously shaped his life.

Tulips

The tulips that Lucy brings to William's seventieth birthday party symbolize longing. Lucy brings the flowers as a token when she comes to the event. However, she later realizes that Estelle does not even unwrap the flowers. Her gift, therefore, has gone unnoticed and unappreciated. The author uses the tulips as a means of illustrating Lucy's feelings of invisibility. Though she has many complex emotions, most people in her life fail to notice, thus invalidating her experience.

Catherine's House

Catherine's...