Repression and Freedom

Mary's physical and emotional life is constrained by family rules, social propriety, and her mother's fears, yet she seeks liberation through music, poetry, physical daring, and ultimately through her affair with Richard.

Mary's physical restraint on her father's knee and her imaginative escape into the 'blue house' illustrate the contrast between constraint and inner freedom.

Mary's anxiety about being 'good' and the boys' rebellious act of letting Ponto loose illustrate the tension between societal expectations and personal freedom.

Mary feels constrained by the need to be good, and her fear of Miss Thompson's dead mother symbolizes the repressive atmosphere of her education.

Mary's excitement and freedom to talk at lunch contrasts with the strict discipline that leads to her being sent out of the room, reflecting the tension between expression and repression.