Imagery of water
Vincent’s encounter with Jonathan happens on a secluded island surrounded by a body of water. The place is only reachable with boats and is isolated from the outside world. At the end of the novel, Vincent decides to spend her life at sea, and Vincent’s story ends the same way it began, isolated and surrounded by water. The imagery of water is presented in reference to seclusion, isolation, and the need for independence.
Money
The imagery of money is presented in a way of differentiating between the groups of people who don’t have it and have to think about it and those who do have it and don’t have to worry about it. Nevertheless, money is shown as a fleeting thing, fictional in the case of Jonathan and the scheme he created. In the case of Vincent, who believed that money will give her independence, she realized that the cost of money is the independence she longed for.
Ghosts and guilt
The novel is intertwined with the appearances of ghosts. The appearance of ghosts is connected to the guilt each character carries with them. Paul sees the ghost of his old friend and finally Vincent because he is tormented by guilt of having wronged them. Jonathan keeps seeing ghosts in prison of all the people who were a part of his scheme and who died as a result of it. He is haunted by guilt despite not wanting to admit it to himself.
Glass messages
The written messages that appear throughout the novel are closely connected to the main characters and their choices. Vincent, as a young girl, writes a message on the school glass saying “sweep me up”. This message foreshadows her entire life: she was swept up by money and luxury and finally swept up by water. Paul writes a message on the glass of the hotel saying “why don’t you swallow broken glass”, and this message turns his life around. He is able to follow his dream of becoming a musician, but is haunted by guilt towards his sister.
