Symbol of the Mirror
One of the first gifts that Nicholas sends to Elise is a beautiful vintage mirror. Apart from its aesthetic value, the mirror is actually a symbol of the way in which Nicholas would like Elise to see herself differently. The symbol stems from a conversation the couple had when Elise confessed that she does not want Nick to meet Zoey as Elise is not pretty like Zoey, and women like her. Nick tells her that her mirror must be wrong. After the conversation he sends the mirror. It is also a symbol of the way Nick sees Elise, as someone of quality and enduring beauty, much like the mirror he has given her.
Abuse of Women Motif
This is a motif that is seen throughout the novel. Elise's father is an abusive man who not only physically abuses Elise but also terrifies her, emotionally and mentally abusing her, chasing her around the house with snakes that terrify her, and generally making her life as a child a living hell. She goes from this relationship to another abusive one, this time with her (now ex) husband Dan, who whilst not physically abusive is extremely emotionally abusive and damages Elise enormously. The motif re-appears again when Dan asks Elise to give him a second chance after his wife cheats on him, again exhibiting a narcissism that is in of itself abusive.
Infidelity Motif
Throughout the novel we see the motif of infidelity and broken trust. Dan cheats on Elise with her best friend, which is a multi-layered infidelity as it involves the betrayal by not just Elise's husband but by her dearest friend and confidante as well. The motif comes up again when Nick is escorting Elise to his company party and tells her that the majority of the people attending it, whilst they might look like happy and devoted couples, are actually having affairs with other people. Lastly, the motif again appears through Dan, who is being cheated on by his now-wife, the same former best friend with whom he betrayed Elise. The motif is particularly interesting in the novel as it highlights the difference between all of these relationships that appear blissful but are actually not, and the genuine loving relationship that is developing between Nick and Elise.
Cinderella as a Symbol
The Lladro figurine of Cinderella in her stagecoach is a symbol of the fact that both Nick and Elise have found their fairytale ending. Elise feels like Cinderella and has been swept off her feet by a handsome prince; Nick, a collector of Lladro figurines, has always wanted to own the Cinderella figure but promised himself that because of its heavy price tag he will not buy it until he has found true love. The fact that he purchases it after they return home from their honeymoon is a symbol of the happy ending they have both found.
Forgiveness of Oneself as a Motif
Both Nick and Elise are seeking to forgive themselves for the devastating actions they took years earlier that impacted not only their lives but the lives of others. Whilst suffering from what was termed "busy mom syndrome", Elise forgot that she had left her daughter Hannah in the car whilst she ran into the office, staying longer than she intended, and finding that Hannah had died from heat exhaustion when she returned to the car several hours later. Not only has Dan made it abundantly clear that he will never forgive her for this but Elise is unable to forgive herself also. She is certain that Nick will not love her once he discovers her secret because in her inability to forgive herself she also sees herself as unloveable. Nick is struggling to forgive himself for causing the death of a family when he drove a friend home from a party and was under the influence of alcohol.
Although he had believed himself to be sober and was trying to prevent his drunk friend from getting behind the wheel, Nick was unable to forgive himself for either his actions on this fateful night, or for the fact that his actions broke up his family. In both cases the motif is woven around the fact that as soon as the victims seem to forgive, both Nick and Elise are able to forgive themselves. In Nick's case, the surviving daughter in the family he killed forgives him, enabling him to finally forgive himself. In Elise's case, she feels that Hannah has forgiven her when she becomes pregnant with Nick's child and her due date is actually the same date as Hannah's birthday, signalling forgiveness.
