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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Motifs
Explanation and Analysis—The Color White:
The color white, frequently associated with purity and chastity, appears throughout the text in association with Polly's character. This motif exists to comment on external perceptions of her virginity and the weight they hold in determining her life trajectory.
Toward the end of "The Boarding House," Mr. Doran recounts the night that Polly first came to his room, at the inception of their love affair. One of the first things he recalls in his memory of that night is the "white instep" of Polly's foot shining forth from her slipper:
Her white instep shone in the opening of her furry slippers and the blood glowed warmly behind her perfumed skin.
It is clear from Mr. Doran's memory of that night that his initial attraction to Polly hinged heavily on her innocent girlhood. He recalls that she tapped on his door "timidly," showcasing the shy, reticent character men are taught to find alluring within gendered societal roles. "Whiteness" in this passage only makes more evident the nature of Mr. Doran's attraction, connecting it directly to Polly's appropriate presentation of feminine chastity.
This motif is further developed after Mr. Doran leaves to speak with Polly's mother about the affair. As Polly waits upstairs for him to return, she disassociates from reality, zoning out as her gaze remains locked on the white pillows on the bed in front of her:
She waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without alarm, her memories gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the future. Her hopes and visions were so intricate that she no longer saw the white pillows on which her gaze was fixed or remembered that she was waiting for anything.
This disassociation holds important symbolic meaning for Polly. She loses focus on the white pillows just as she daydreams about a future where her sexual scruples do not come under suspicion. The pillows' whiteness is emphasized to demonstrate her momentary forgetfulness of the societal importance of young girls' sexual purity.
Related Themes:
