Helen’s Painting
Helen is a retired historian who is spending most of her time painting at Sid's studio. Helen paints a canvas showing that New York is submerged in water which symbolized the possible arrival of Hurricane Sandy. People thought that Helen's paintings were nightmares, but her symbolism and predictions came to pass when hurricanes lasted and terrorized the people for a long time.
The symbolism of friendship
The closeness of the characters, Marie and Simone, symbolizes the value of friendship. These two women are widows, and they lost their husbands in painful ways. Consequently, Marie and Simone encourage each other, and they get the courage to move on. While living in Manhattan, the two women support each other, and that plays a critical role in aiding them to forget the past as they move forward.
Elizabeth as a symbol of despair
Elizabeth is an individual who has given up in life, and she thinks that she is the only person who is struggling to survive. According to Elizabeth, she thinks that her friends like Marie are living a good life. However, Marie is also nursing the pain of losing her husband. Therefore, the author hints that it is critical to share our problems with others to get reprieve and counseling.
The symbolism of art
Art is a symbol of therapy that helps the stressed people to view life from a positive perspective. Marie and Simone are among the many women who attend art classes at Sid's studio. Art helps these women to connect with crafts and prepare them for a new life, which plays a vital role in helping them forget their past problems.
Sid’s studio
Sid's studio is an emblem of optimism because despite the owner being an older man, his artistry skills give people the hope of starting a new life. The primary aim of Sid is not to generate profit but to empower people to be self-reliant and, more importantly, start a new life.
