48 pages • 1-hour read
All We Ever Wanted
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Symbols & Motifs
The Green Uno Card
Content Warning: This novel contains scenes relating to non-consensual sharing of sexual photos, sexual assault, and racism.
The green Uno card in Lyla’s hand in the photograph taken by Finch reflects racism and ignorance. The caption of Finch’s Snapchat story reads: “Looks like she got her green card” (25). This implies that Lyla is both undocumented and willing to obtain legal citizenship through sexual activities. By including this in the novel, Giffin opens up a conversation about the detrimental effects of racism. Lyla has both white and Brazilian heritage, and several of the other characters refer to her as Hispanic even though she is technically Brazilian, or Latina. By placing the green Uno card in her hand, Finch belittles her heritage and expresses ignorance regarding both race and immigration. Kirk and Finch’s insistence that the caption is “a joke” further emphasizes the harmful consequences of not taking racism seriously.
The green Uno card reflects false perceptions about Lyla. It also represents the ignorance many choose to not overcome. For example, Melanie refers to Lyla as a “mulatto”(145), which is a derogatory term for a person with a diverse racial background. Even though Nina attempts to correct her, Melanie does not seem to care.
Envelope of Money
The envelope of money that Kirk offers Tom represents false promises and the gap between economic classes. By trying to buy off Tom’s silence, Kirk places space between him and Tom, which reflects the space between people in different social classes. When Kirk gives him the money, Tom thinks about how Kirk stratifies and dehumanizes people: “Maybe he had multiple envelopes in his desk. Envelope number one for the minority laborer. Envelope number two for the blue-collar white guy. Envelope number three for the fellow suit” (103). Kirk’s attempt to persuade Tom to stay silent shows how he dismisses Lyla and Tom’s emotions, and how he tends to dehumanize other people.
Money acts as a driving force for many of the characters. Although Tom gives the money back to Nina, he considers how the large sum could add comfort to his and Lyla’s life. By giving back the money, Tom does not let it hold power over him the way other characters like Kirk allow money to rule their lives.
Tree Houses
The tree houses made by Tom represent the complex nature of life. They illustrate how individuals are complex and the intricate nature of relationships among people.
When Lyla sees the tree house Tom built for Bonnie, she is in awe of the craftmanship of her father’s work. The tree house allows her to see her father for his talent, and to envision him as an individual and not just her father. She sees the tree house for the first time after Tom and Lyla reflect together on the situation with Finch; this implies that the tree house becomes a space for them to build up their relationship as well as themselves as individuals.
At the end of the text, Nina claims that everyone needs “a sanctuary,” “a home” with “people who will always have our backs” (330). In this moment, the tree houses represent innocence, as well as the necessity of creating relationships with people and the comfort of sharing one’s home with family. The donation of the tree houses provides a space for women and children to connect with each other just as Tom and Lyla connect at Bonnie’s house.
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