Debbie
In this collection, we might see Debbie as a representation of femininity and the feminine. She is mentioned occasionally in the collection, for example, "Debbie tugs at books as loose dresses her cold porcelain clarity so... it pours like rope." Overall, we could see Debbie as representing a feminine alternative to epic heroes in classical literature, who are usually men.
Virgil
Robertson alludes to Virgil often in this text, and like the classical author, she also writes in the epic form. Virgil is mostly referenced in terms of his departure, suggesting that this poem is trying to distance itself from such classical authors. For example, she writes that "Virgil recedes into the distance."
