Catherine and Claire
Catherine and Claire could not be more different. In the first scene, Catherine is established as an antisocial depressive who is "haphazardly dressed." Then, in Claire's first scene, she is described as "stylish" and "attractive." The two sisters are opposites of one another, with Claire as an image of put-together corporate polish, and Catherine as the image of a haunted and disheveled intellectual.
Robert without a coat
In the flashback from three and a half years before Robert's death, we see Robert on the porch of the house in the dead of a cold Chicago winter, wearing a t-shirt with no coat. This image suggests and foreshadows that he is not completely mentally well, that he is out of touch with reality and with his senses.
Suitcase
Catherine has packed her bags and is ready to go to New York when Hal arrives to speak with her. She chooses to stay and go over the proof from the notebook with him. While she has a suitcase packed, she decides to stay on the porch, and the image of her sitting down with Hal suggests that she will stay in Chicago and make a life with him.
Catherine alone in a black dress
After her father's funeral, Catherine sits on the porch alone. She removes herself from the festivities and she is wearing a flattering dress that Claire picked out for her. The image represents her solitude, that even among people who are having a raucous party, she is interested in being alone, in mourning, and in being somewhat antisocial.
