So This Is War

Wylie’s nanny apartment in Levi’s house is symbolic of solitude and independence. The apartment is diminutive and located underneath Levi’s otherwise sprawling upstairs space. He feels embarrassed showing it to her when she first moves in because it’s humble compared to his home. However, the space excites and empowers Wylie because it’s her first time living alone. She invests in the little apartment, repainting and redecorating it to make it her own. This is where Wylie’s independent life begins. It gives her a sense of autonomy and agency and spurs her self-discovery and self-actualization journeys.

However, once Wylie and Levi start dating, she moves out of the nanny apartment and upstairs. She has learned to take care of herself, but she is ready for partnership. This also references Power Dynamics in Relationships, as she was previously “below” him as his assistant; when they’re honest with each other and begin dating, they can live as equals in the same space.

The Patty Ford logo contest is symbolic of aspiration. Wylie decides to enter the contest because she’s determined to prove herself to her dad and establish herself as an artist. The contest gives her a chance to express herself and take control of her future. Her investment in her submission throughout the novel captures Wylie’s determination to succeed at her goals and manifest her dreams, no matter the associated obstacles. It also represents the convergence of her interests and identity. She wants the freedom to become an artist, but she also wants to pursue Levi sexually without the restrictions of the professional dynamic created by her father. Drawing sexual content for Patty Ford combines these two facets of her character.

Wylie’s drawings are symbolic of identity. In the months before the narrative present, Wylie has been honing her personal artistic practice. She’s discovered that she’s “really good at it” and tells her dad that if he lets her show him what she can do, he “will believe that [she] can do something great with this” (25). Drawing is therefore her passion. Her desire to draw originates from her heart and soul and is a manifestation of who she is and how she sees the world. When she’s working on her drawings, she feels peaceful, purposeful, and fulfilled. For these reasons, when Levi invests in Wylie’s drawings, Wylie feels that he is investing in her as a person. The same rules apply to her dad: When he dismisses her drawings, Wylie feels as if he is dismissing her and undermining her value.

The bagels that Wylie repeatedly buys for Levi are symbolic of power. Throughout the novel, Coach Will Wood demands that Levi make Wylie fetch the bagels in the middle of the night. Levi doesn’t eat the bagels and instead has Wylie put them in the freezer. The bagels are a way for the characters to control one another. Wood is forcing Levi to impose a menial task on Wylie so that he can control his daughter and her future. After Wylie discovers Levi and Wood’s setup, she starts taking shortcuts with the bagel task, a shift in behavior that captures her attempts to reclaim power within her relationships with both Levi and Wood.

The bracelets that Levi buys for Wylie are symbolic of possession. The bracelets are permanent and therefore represent the permanence of Levi and Wylie’s attachment to and love for each other. Wylie appreciates the gesture because Levi’s possessiveness makes her feel safe and cherished, feelings she hasn’t had in her other romantic relationships or within the context of her family. Her dad’s emotional distance from her and his willingness to cut her off if their arrangement fails indicate that their relationship feels tenuous and impermanent. Meanwhile, Levi’s unabashed desire to keep her in his life and show his affection for her makes their connection feel strong and reliable.