Queen Elizabeth II
Elaine admires Queen Elizabeth II enormously, especially for her stoicism and "gung ho" attitude to bringing the Commonwealth together again after World War Two. The Queen is referenced multiple times in the novel. As a child, Elaine perceived her to be strong and brave and this is something that she aspired to being as well.
Attwood's Father Allegory
Like Elaine, the author's parents were entymologists and this is believed to be allegorized in the novel. Although she has never confirmed nor denied any similarities in their upbringing, the experiences that she had growing up and the perception of other people regarding entymologists is also allegorized in the book.
Daughter's Friends Allegory
Attwood was a close observer of her daughter and her friends' behavior around each other and also the teen dramas that the girls seem to be preoccupied with on a daily basis. The entry into an existing group of friends and the unbalancing of that friendship as a result is allegorical of what she saw in her daughter's day to day life at school.
Self Portrait Symbol
In her self-portrait, Elaine shows three young girls outside of the jar that represents her own life. This is a symbol for the fact that she considers Carol, Grace and Cordelia to have no influence on her life as an adult.
Nameless Parents Symbol
Elaine's parents are never named in the novel and she never references them by their names in her reminiscences. This is symbolic of the fact that she did not consider them influential in her life and that their role in shaping her was so negligible that their names are not worth mentioning.
