The Luxury of Horse and Carriage

            The Luxe, by Anna Godberson, is a lot like a written soap opera. There is new drama left and right; new relationships, crashing friendships, jealousy and rage, etc. The book is set in late 19th century Manhattan. Elizabeth, main character, is betrothed to a man she doesn't love and who doesn't love her to save her family from financial crisis. The man she does love is poor coachman for her family. An important symbol in the book is the horse and carriage, which pops up a lot. It's a symbol of everything Elizabeth wants but can't have.


            Will, who Elizabeth sees in secret, offers to take her out west, where they will start a life together. Elizabeth wants this more than anything, but knows she must stay behind to help her family. This is why I think the horse and carriage is a symbol. The image represents travel, and to Elizabeth, travel means freedom. She wants to be with Will freely and marry him, and the horse and carriage symbolizes running away and never looking back. I think the horse itself is also a symbol for Elizabeth herself; it is tamed to fit into society( in that time period) but it would much prefer to be wild and roam free, as it once did. Elizabeth  knows running away with Will would be wild and crazy, but she's sick of hiding what she wants under the rules and etiquette set for women of her time. 

            Elizabeth is engaged to Henry, a handsome, young, wealthy man; but he's not the one she wants.Will is the carriage driver, and so represents liberty. The horse and carriage in The Luxe symbolizes what Elizabeth already loves, Will, not just what she yearns for, freedom. Or, in this case, who she loves. I think the carriage is also a sign that Will can protect Elizabeth; he commands the movement of the carriage, where things--cargo, or people--can be safely smuggled to their destination.
           
           The horse and carriage symbolizes freedom; travel; protection; love. In short, a solution to Elizabeth's problems, or so Will can persuade himself--but not her. I think Elizabeth is a good person. She could take what she wants and go, but she'd never leave her family hanging. She can do everything and save everyone--but by doing so, she's leaving herself behind.

           
         

Hello Readers!

            Hi out there. My name's Eliza, and this is my blog! Bookit with Love is a blog based on my journey--my reading and writing journey, that is. You can find posts following my progress through my reading life and my thoughts about what I'm reading. Who knows--I might post excerpts of my own writing now and then. Hope you like it!