Celia is a character of contradiction; one moment she is clarifying the distinction between body and soul, and the next she is accepting the shame and responsibility of the actions done to the body she previously separated herself from. This dichotomy of Celia’s character is intentional in order to demonstrate the way in which her shame is internalized: that though she lacks agency in her rape, she is still at fault, raising a spotlight on a very real issue of victim blaming that is still present in modern society.

In “The Wife of His Youth,” a short story in Tales of Conjure and the Color Line, Charles Chesnutt develops the character of Liza Jane to explore the various masks that have often been worn by both w\omen and people of color. Chestnutt’s exploration of masks is not singular to this story but prevails throughout his other works, aiding in his creation of two character archetypes, Uncle Julius and Annie.

Anne Bradstreet, a 17th-century devout puritan and female poet, finds connections between the material and spiritual worlds through her domestic existence. Her work uses a feminine lens to take a close look at her personal experiences, often revealing her love for modest material things, such as her home and grandchildren. However, though it seems natural that she would care for some of her worldly connections, she is frequently admonishing herself when she feels she has cared too deeply, ultimately leading her work to develop the theme of material love becoming a distraction from spiritual devotion.

Sometimes a piece of media is created with the intention of acting as a symbol, and sometimes it is adopted by a group of people and reimagined as a representation of their personal station. Lorde’s first album, Pure Heroine, falls somewhere in the middle of this, with its representation of class being a consistent theme through her songs in addition to the complementary themes of growing up, friendships, etc., ultimately communicating that class is always being experienced. Her album situates the listener in the class divide by making connections to common class symbols and showcasing how class does not simply affect finances but affects many aspects of life.