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Symbols - Everything I Never Told You

Brittan Nesse

Harvard Acceptance Letter

The Harvard University acceptance letter is an important symbol included in the story because it represents more than one character and scenario in the book. It represents James, Marilyn. and Nath.

The Harvard logo represents James in many ways. Harvard represents both James' accomplishments, and his failures. James was an outstanding student, finishing both his undergraduate and his doctors degree. Although James is very academically skilled, he never met social standards at Harvard. James has no friends and an award he was well qualified for was rewarded to someone else.

James

Marilyn attended Radcliffe, the women's collage within Harvard University. Marilyn, similar to James, excels academically, but fails to be seen valid by her male classmates and professors. While attending Harvard. Marilyn had her eyes set on medical school and to do "big things" but her mother had other things in mind. During the time Marilyn spent at Harvard Doris haunted her with her hope of Marilyn marrying a "Harvard man." In the end, Marilyn does end up marrying a "Harvard man" just like Doris wanted, he just was not what Doris had in mind. Marilyn's dreams of med school are pushed far out of reach when she, to her surprise, finds out she's pregnant.

Marilyn

Nath

Harvard represents Nath in a much different way than it represents his parents. Nath has a dream of studying outer space, it fascinates him. Nath looks at being accepted to Harvard as a rebirth, he plans to build himself up as a new person at Harvard, a fresh start. Although, his excitement is overtaken by the death of his younger sister Lydia. Nath wants to look forward and be eager for university, but he has to deal with so many emotions like shock, fear and guilt, which causes Nath to be discouraged and feel unsure about Harvard.

Betty Crocker Cook Book

The Betty Crocker cook book represents Marilyn and her mother in the story. Doris wanted Marilyn to be a perfect house wife, but Marilyn had a dream of becoming a doctor. After Marilyn married James and told her mother he was chinese, Doris was not thrilled. Doris wanted Marilyn to marry a "Harvard Man" but James was not what she had in mind. The marrage caused a huge fight between Marilyn and Doris, and they never spoke again. Later, Doris passed away, and Marilyn was left with all of her belongings. Although Marilyn found no joy in any of her mothers things, she kept one Betty Crocker Cook Book. After a while she came to realize that the cook book haunted her, and reminded her of how she had failed in her mother's eyes.

"Baby Soft" Perfume

Lydias perfume represents her age and what kind of things she was feeling within the story. When Lydia died, she was just 16-years-old, between child and adulthood. Lydia was a mature young woman, but she still had her times to act like a child. Her "Baby Soft" perfume represents both her childhood and her transition to adulthood. "Baby Soft" is something that claims innocence and purity. Yet perfume itself is seen as "sexy" and something an adult wears. Before Lydia's death, she started to escape her childhood and experience things like smoking and having sex. Throughput the story I think Lydia was confused and unsure about leaving her childhood behing and becoming an adult with responsibilities, I think it caused her to think in a way she wouldn't usually and cause her stress.

Stethoscope

The stethoscope represents both Marilyn and Lydia within the novel.

The stethoscope represents Marilyn and her life long dream of becoming a doctor. From a young age Marilyn had always been obsessed with the idea of doctors. Although Marilyn faced many challenges during her studies (mostly sexist prejudice against female doctors), it only made her want it even more. Yet after marrying James, Marilyns goal of becoming a doctor was pushed further and further from her reach. When Marilyn is forced to forget her dream of becoming a doctor she projects her ambitions onto Lydia, meaning her expectations for Lydia were always very high.

Marilyn

The stethoscope represents Lydia in an indirect way through her mother Marilyn. Once Marilyn's dreams of becoming a doctor were taken from her, she had the brilliant idea to persuade her goal through Lydia. Marilyn always had high expectations for Lydia, causing Lydia a lot of unnecessary stress. Marilyns ambition towards medical studies leads to cause not just Lydia pain, but also others in the story as well.

Lydia

Wave/Lake

The lake is a very large component in the story, in fact it is the first main thing. The lake represents the entire Lee family and all of their secrets, but in my opinion, it represents Lydia the most. As the lake was both the cause and the site of Lydia's death. I see it as pretty important. Lydia does not know how to swim, and she never has known how to swim, yet she and the other Lee children and always drawn to the lake. Lydia had an idea to become a new version of her, a rebirth. One night at a ridiculous hour, Lydia sneaks out on her own and walks to the lake. Her idea of closurre is very dangerous. Lydia paddles to the center of the lake, alone, and jumps out of the boat. She thinks if she can swim from the middle to shore, she will feel a fresh start, and a new her, yet she was wrong, very very wrong.

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