payment page
Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.
Locks and Keys
Locks and keys appear repeatedly in the novel, representing control, imprisonment, and power dynamics. Both Millie and Nina are physically locked away in the attic by Andrew, a literal imprisonment that reflects their larger metaphorical imprisonment by Andrew’s manipulation and control. Locks signify the lack of autonomy the women face, while keys become symbols of fleeting power or potential escape. The moment Millie is locked in the attic mirrors Nina’s earlier experience, making the motif of locks central to the theme of abuse and entrapment. Throughout the novel, the characters’ interactions with locks and keys mark key turning points in their struggles for freedom, emphasizing how tightly Andrew controls their lives.
White Clothing
White clothing, especially worn by Nina, is a recurring motif in the novel representing affluence, then purity and repression. Millie initially judges Nina for her white clothes, assuming they reflect her privilege and vanity, but the narrative reveals that she wears white clothing due to Andrew’s control, not Nina’s preference. Andrew’s preference for Nina to wear white suggests his need to create an image of perfection and submissiveness, turning her into a symbol of the "ideal" wife in his mind. It is also connected to his relationship with his mother, who also wears white; by forcing his victim to wear white, he can turn her into a surrogate for his mother and reassert control.
Surveillance
Surveillance, whether through physical observation or digital tracking, is another recurring motif that heightens the theme of psychological control. Both Millie and Nina are constantly being watched—first by Andrew, who uses hidden cameras and tracking apps to monitor their movements, and later by each other as they try to outmaneuver him. Andrew’s surveillance creates a sense of paranoia and claustrophobia, where neither woman feels safe in her own environment. The repeated focus on surveillance reflects Andrew’s dominance and highlights how both women are stripped of privacy, leaving them vulnerable to his psychological torment.
