The motif of roses traces Lila's psychological journey from violated innocence to thriving maturity. White roses traditionally signify purity and modesty; Lila wears a tiara of them at Luca’s wedding, reflecting her characterization as a sheltered young woman. When her attacker assaults her on the beach, the tiara falls into the sand, and Lila observes that “the flowers [a]ren’t white anymore. They [a]re dark red. Drenched in [her] own blood” (26). The transformation of the flowers from white to red symbolizes Lila’s induction into a world of violence, vengeance, and lust.

From this point forward, roses become a trauma trigger for Lila. When she encounters a vase of roses at Tiernan’s pub, she panics, but Tiernan steps in by forcibly removing them from her sight. His response symbolizes his commitment to protecting and avenging her. Lila’s response is further justified when Tiernan eventually learns that the roses in the pub are the same ones stained with Lila’s blood. Fintan kept them as a grotesque memento of the assault.

Later, after they have declared their love for one another, Tiernan takes Lila to their new home, where he has filled their ballroom with roses “in every color and shape” (404). Lila no longer associates roses with pain and fear but now with safety, music, and love. While the shift from white to red reflected a painful transition from innocence to violence, the multi-colored roses reflect the emotional complexity of Lila and Tiernan’s bond and new life together. They will thrive in a world that is still marred by violence, and Lila will never again be the innocent person she was, but she’s now an empowered and happy woman with a devoted partner.