Metaphor for distress
After a failed attempt at rekindling their marriage, Mrs. Bentley falls gravely ill and needs to be taken care of constantly. What is interesting is that the narrator mentioned that before the marriage between the Bentleys, started to fall apart, the spouses were in perfect health. As such, we can assume that the illness is used here as a metaphor for distress and pain.
Metaphor for secrecy
After Judith remains pregnant and her pregnancy becomes visible, she is sent to the countryside to live with her family. The main reason why she is sent to the countryside is that she wants to hide the fact that she got pregnant without being married. As such, the country is used here as a metaphor for secrecy.
The necklace
After it became apparent that Judith is pregnant, Mr. Bentley gave her a beautiful necklace, filled with expensive jewels. Mrs. Bentley sees the necklace and recognizes it, thus realizing with whom Judith slept. Because of this, the necklace is used here as a metaphor for the truth.
The glasses
In an attempt to deal with her husband's infidelity, Mrs. Bentley decides to give in to the sexual advantages of a local teacher. Mrs. Bentley is attracted by him because he is extremely intelligent and has a sensible soul. The teacher is always described as wearing glasses, an element on which the narrator fixates. Thus, the glasses are used here as a metaphor to represent all those qualities that Mrs. Bentley finds attractive.
A barren field
The novel ends with the main character sitting on the front porch and looking at the field which was barren for the duration of the novel. For the first time, Mrs. Bentley notices grass and flowers blooming in the distance, an image which makes her hopeful. The vegetation is also used here as a metaphor, representing hope and the newly revived relationship between the Bentleys.
