All the Little Houses
62 pages • 2-hour read
May CobbAll the Little Houses
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Symbols & Motifs
Water
Water is a key motif in the novel, introduced by the flashforwards to the murder scene describing a body floating in the lake. The teens regularly gather at a local swimming hole, while the pond on the Swift property is both the site of Jackson and Ethan’s tryst and the location where Jackson catches Abigail and Alexander together. The motif of these bodies of water reflects hidden depths and dangers lurking below the surface. Bodies of water can seem innocuous and pleasant, but it can be hard to accurately distinguish what lies underneath. The attempt to hide the corpse by sinking it in the lake establishes the connection between bodies of water and The Deceptive Nature of Appearances.
What is hidden below the water can either reveal past events or active, present dangers. Blair is seriously injured after leaping into a body of water without understanding what lies in wait for her; the risks lurking under depths reflect the novel’s exploration of many secrets being concealed under the seemingly perfect façade of small-town life. The idea of hidden dangers also reflects the capacity for violence and betrayal hidden within a character’s own nature. Nellie’s capacity to kill, for example, emerges suddenly by the lake when she is provoked by Charleigh, and Charleigh refuses to be honest about her own simmering beliefs that Nellie is capable of seriously harming someone.
If Jane’s theory about Julia causing Blair’s accident is correct, then Julia swam underwater to untie the canoe and used the depths of water to conceal her malevolent intentions. In all of these cases, looking at the surface does not allow one to accurately know what lies beneath, just as a character’s exterior might reveal very little about her inner state and what she is truly capable of.
Abigail’s Potions
Abigail contributes to the Swift family finances by making and selling potions, tinctures, and oils. Most of these are targeted to local women and include products for weight loss and invigorating a partner’s desire. The potions symbolize how the performance of femininity becomes an instrument of power.
Abigail surprises Charleigh by quickly becoming popular with many of the women in town, even though she is not wealthy, beautiful, or socially influential. Abigail seems satisfied with her simple life and radiates contentedness, espousing how the traditional roles of wife and mother bring her the greatest satisfaction. Charleigh is embittered and spiteful about what she assumes must be a front, but many of the other women in the town are drawn to Abigail. Consuming her potions and concoctions symbolizes how they want to emulate her quiet confidence and happiness.
Abigail is essentially a successful entrepreneur, but she is able to gain trust and social status because she presents herself as modest and traditionally feminine. Her products speak to the inner desires of the women around her, along with their fears and disappointments. The idea of potions alludes to a tradition of midwives, healers, and witches—women who historically wielded power and influence within their communities. However, by situating herself within this lineage as a kind of “wise woman” rather than positioning herself as a business owner, Abigail manages to maintain the delicate balance of performing traditional femininity while achieving success and power. Through this strategic deployment of femininity and deference as tools of power, Abigail’s characterization anticipates the “tradwife” phenomenon in contemporary social media.
Nellie’s Car
Nellie drives an expensive, bright red convertible. The car symbolizes her entitlement and capacity for violence. The expensive sports car reflects how Nellie’s parents give her whatever she wants, and how she displays her wealth and status to the other residents of the town. The car gives Nellie the power to go wherever she wants, and when she drives it, she feels “free. Wild. Capable of anything” (3).
Due to Nellie’s intense and erratic nature, her impulses and freedom often prompt her to engage in dangerous acts. Early in the novel, Nellie drives her car alongside where Jane is riding her horse, with the contrast between the two modes of transit reflecting the difference in lifestyle between the two girls. Nellie ends up spooking the horse, leading to Jane falling and injuring her leg. This incident symbolizes how Nellie’s reckless nature leads her to act without considering the consequences. It foreshadows how she will eventually frighten Jane and some other teens by nearly mowing them down with a jet ski. The bright red color—associated with passion, violence, and bloodshed—symbolizes Nellie’s intensity, forcefulness, and desire to always be the center of attention, while also hinting at the murder she will eventually commit.
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