The manuscript

The manuscript Agatha writes is symbolic of her finally letting go of Archie. In recording the intimate details of their marriage, Agatha is forced to come face to face with the monster she married. Writing the manuscript means that she can no longer pretend to love the man who has driven her to such desperation.

Agatha’s writing

Agatha’s writing represents the one area of her life she has control over. Archie cannot interfere or impose order on her writing. Agatha’s stories are an outlet for her creativity and for the passion she is deprived of expressing in her private life.

The dance card

The dance card Agatha discards in order to dance with Archie is symbolic of her rejection of the antiquated social customs of her class. The dance card shows that Agatha secretly desires more than an endless list of boring...