Sarah’s Diary (Symbol)
The diary is the quintessence of the whole novel. Her written thoughts reveal the reason why she leaves Maurice. The diary describes how she spends her time without Maurice and draws attention to her spiritual transformation. If at the beginning of the book, emotions beat in full force, the diary seems to turn off the sound and muffles emotions to the minimum. Sarah’s diary is a symbol of the inner experience and real emotions of a woman.
Death (Symbol)
Maurice and Henry think they are happy when they love Sarah. However, none of the men are ready to bear the burden of love, which would become a purification for them. They destroy Sarah as a symbol of elevated feeling because in fact they are incapable of conforming to her. Death for Sarah is a symbol of liberation, the escape from the prison of her body, attachment to which takes on disastrous forms, which makes her doubt her faith.
Relationship (Motif)
Relationships between adults always seem complicated and incomprehensible. However, when another person appears in this story, even the universe cannot solve this incredibly difficult task. Sarah, Maurice, and Henry do not hide their feelings, thoughts, and desires. Their relationship does not have any secrets or skeletons in the closet. Perhaps they are tired of not having happiness. Their lives are boring and empty. Sarah and Maurice decide to share their sorrow with the outside world and God. They get rid of the thought “What if Henry finds out.” Well, Henry almost does not care whether his wife loves him or not.
