Storm Symbol
The night that Liza loses her virginity to Erast, there is a terrible thunderstorm. This is a symbol of her loss of purity and the destruction of her life that follows it. It is the only moment of bad weather in the story.
Shepherd Symbol
Liza wishes that she could fall for the shepherd boy whom she sees every day. He is often humming folk songs and he represents the simple peasant life that she wishes she wanted, and that she could have been pursuing instead of falling for someone cruel and unsuitable like Erast.
Lillies of the Valley
Lilly of the Valley are flowers that are traditionally very popular at weddings; however, they are also highly poisonous and can be lethal. The flowers are a symbol of what happens to Liza after she falls in love; the romance ends up killing her, linking love and poisonous tragedy.
River Symbol
The river is a symbol of Liza's tragedy. The first romantic meeting between Liza and Erast is at the riverside, and when she goes to the river to meet him, but he does not appear, she throws flowers into the river. She also commits suicide by drowning herself in the river. Throughout the story the river is a symbol of the tragedy of Liza's life, and her doomed love.
Flowers Symbol
Liza is a flower seller and the flowers are a symbol of Liza throughout the story. She initially sells delicate flowers, which symbolize her purity, innocence and fragility. As the story progresses, the emphasis is placed on the lilies that she is selling and this symbolizes the darkness that has taken over Liza's life.
