Aging and Regret

Jane's reflections on her fiftieth birthday and her memories of lost love (André) and missed opportunities highlight the theme of aging, the passage of time, and the bittersweet nature of looking back on life's choices.

Jane contemplates her own aging and the bittersweet nature of watching her daughter grow up.

The dismantling of Mrs. Furness's room and the memories associated with her clothes evoke loss and the passage of time.

Jane reflects on the four years of waiting and the changes in both herself and André.

Jane reflects on turning thirty-six, the loss of excitement, and Stephen's visible aging and weariness.