Symbolism In The Painted Door

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When both parties in a marriage are not fully committed to each other, it may lead to infidelity and heartbreak. Ann and John are in a long marriage, and John is loyal to Ann. She feels that some aspects of a relationship are missing between them. She doubts her husbands love for her as she feels he does not give her intimacy. The paint in The Painted Door is reflective of the miscommunication in their relationship; leading to Ann’s inner struggle, and betrayal; the title provides the reader with guidance to the importance of the door and the process of painting it. Ann looks for love and intimacy from John’s friend, Steven. This is why John’s death ultimately falls on her. She betrays her husband, and the consequences cannot be reversed. She kills her husband.

The Painted Door reveals much of the symbolism in the story through the title. By naming it after the door, the reader knows that the door is significant and the paint symbolizes much more than just paint and changing the colour of a door. The text focuses a lot on the paint and her job of painting the door, and having the
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“They were both safe. No one would ever know.” (187) This quote proves that Ann committed infidelity against her husband. She has officially rebelled against what she considered to be a loveless relationship and is trying to feel wanted again. It is no longer the weather she is blaming, she realizes all along she wants more from this relationship, John is not giving her enough of the intimate emotional and physical aspect of a marriage. The process of the paint drying represents Ann and John’s relationship dying. When she first started painting, she was a loyal, but ungrateful, wife to John. Towards the very end, when the paint has dried, Ann has betrayed her husband and is now a regretful widow. No amount of remorse Ann feels can bring back John, it is her insecurities that killed

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