Symbols & Motifs
Music
Content Warning: The source material and this guide reference mental health concerns, body image struggles and addiction to alcohol.
Daverley uses the motif of music to represent Rosie’s true, authentic self. Throughout the novel, Rosie’s passion for music functions as an expressive outlet, an emotional release, and a way to process complex feelings that she struggles to articulate, underscoring the novel’s thematic interest in The Significance of Unspoken Words and Repressed Emotions. She describes it to Will, “I play because I have to […] Because I don’t feel okay if I don’t” (98). Composing, playing, and singing are a part of Rosie’s identity, yet after Josh’s death, she casts aside her passion, choosing not to attend music school. In college, music represents the parts of Rosie’s life she keeps hidden as she avoids taking music classes, and none of her friends know of her talent. When Rosie’s mental health declines, music represents a path to reconnect with her mind and body—a means of coping with the intensity of her internal world and relationships. Rosie uses music as a tool for emotional expression when she can’t voice her feelings directly. Composing songs and poetry allow her access to her inner life, reflecting her emotional state and providing a way to release pent-up sadness, longing, and love.
