THE SYMBOLISM OF FLOWERS

◦ Virginia – the flowers symbolise rest and the bleakness of life as they cradle the dead bird that her nephews and nieces find. The once joyous, life filled bird seems empty and small as it lays between the petals, which also have a shortened lifespan as they have been disconnected from their stems ◦ Laura – the flowers make up the emotional and mental distance between her and her family, with both Dan giving them to her and “reaching out” to her as his wife, and her reciprocating by placing them on the table, to show that she is willing to strengthen the bonds between them at that point in time ◦ Clarissa – the flowers symbolise vitality and light, brightening up the spaces she brings them to, including Richard’s house (which visually are more saturated and the lighting is focused on them, darkening the rooms) and her own apartment. They also symbolise the typical housekeeping chores which Clarissa enjoys

THE SYMBOLISM OF CRACKED EGGS

Cracked Eggs When they break the eggs, they use their frustration with their lives to break them - Virginia’s servants are fed up with the way they’ve been treated by Virginia - Laura is unsatisfied with her life as a housewife - Clarissa is frustrated at Louis’ disregard for the responsibility of Richard

Cracking eggs is a menial, mundane task for lower people -Virginia gets her servants to crack eggs -Laura is unhappy with cooking a cake, especially with cracking the eggs -Clarissa enjoys hosting parties, but doesn’t like cracking eggs

Breaking off the eggs, with them breaking open and messy stuff coming out, represents tension in the characters -Laura has inner tension of committing suicide or running away in order to escape her mundane life of managing the household -Clarissa is at the breaking point when she has to hear Louis’ tell how he enjoyed flaunting his responsibilities of caring for Richard, while she was stuck with him, as well as the unfairitie there