John Marcher's home
The events described in the first chapter take place inside the home of a rich man named John Marcher. The house is described in great detail, the narrator focusing on the expensive furniture in the house and on the extravagant paintings hanging on the walls. This initial image is an extremely important one because it sets the scene for the rest of the action while also transmitting the idea that all the characters mentioned in the book belonged to an upper social class.
Italy
As John and May reminiscence about their first encounter, they describe in vivid detail various locations in Italy such as Naples and Rome. The image portrayed here is almost paradisiacal and is used to transmit the idea that the time John and May spend in Italy was the epitome of their happiness.
Sacred
In the second chapter John thinks about asking May to marry him. John thinks how it would if the two of them would end up spending the rest of their lives together and decides against marrying her. In this scene, John portrays marriage as something sacred, a bond between two people which should not be made available to everyone. This image is important because it also transmits the idea that John does not see May as a suitable wife.
The old woman in the chair
Towards the middle of the novel, it is revealed that May is extremely sick and will soon pass away. One day, John comes to visit her and he finds May slumped in a chair by the fire, covered in blankets, pale and with her hair in disarray. This image is an extremely important one because it marks the climax of the novel and also the moment when John realizes that his good friend is not as strong as he believed her to be.
