Lucy encounters a nun several times in the course of the novel. Dr. John believes that the nun is caused by Lucy's nerves, while M. Paul worries that it might be a message from beyond. What does Lucy think of the nun, and how does it affect her state of mind over the course of the novel?

Compare the images of the actress Vashti and the portrait of Cleopatra and how these images, and the events surrounding them, affect Lucy. How do these figures compare to Lucy and the other female characters in the novel?

The ending is left purposefully ambiguous. Why did Brontl do this?

Many times in the novel, Lucy has conversations with abstract concepts such as Reason, Feeling, Freedom and Renovation, which have been personified into characters. How do these personifications work in the story? How do these conversation help Lucy...