46 pages • 1-hour read
Call It What You Want
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Symbols & Motifs
Writing and Journaling
The motif of writing and journaling charts Sloane’s transformation from seeking external validation to achieving self-actualization, making it central to the theme of defining self-worth beyond a relationship. Initially, writing is a private coping mechanism, a way to process the overwhelming feelings Sloane cannot otherwise articulate. She explains to Ethan that “[w]hen [she] ha[s] a lot of overwhelming feelings that [she] do[esn’t] know how to process, [she] write[s] them down” (32). This establishes writing as her sanctuary, a place where she can make sense of her anxieties and the emotional turmoil of her undefined relationship. For much of the novel, her writing remains a background element, a private practice that reflects her internal state but does not yet empower her in the external world. It is a tool for survival, underscoring her initial reliance on Ethan for validation.
The motif evolves when Sloane channels her heartbreak into her work. Encouraged by her editor, Annie, to find emotional depth, Sloane pens “An Open Letter to the Guy Who Didn’t Want to Date Me.” Annie advises her, “Just don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and put these feelings into words. You’d be surprised at how cathartic it is. Plus, it might just help you find that depth you’ve been searching for” (143). This act marks a pivotal shift, transforming her private pain into a public form of empowerment. Her writing becomes the vehicle through which she reclaims her own narrative, fosters a connection with others, and, most importantly, helps rebuild her self-esteem.
The New York Yankees T-Shirt
Ethan’s New York Yankees T-shirt is a symbol of Sloane and Ethan’s relationship, representing the initial idealization of Ethan and the ultimate shattering of Sloane’s hopes. When Sloane first meets Ethan, the shirt is the first thing she notices and provides the catalyst for their conversation. The “worn-out gray T-shirt with the New York Yankees logo plastered across the front” (6), immediately connects him to her long-held dream of moving to New York City. In this context, the shirt symbolizes promise and destiny; it makes Ethan seem like a tangible part of the future she has always envisioned for herself. This deepens Sloane’s immediate infatuation and ties her feelings for him to her own identity and goals. This connection also fuels her desire to believe he can be the person she needs him to be, linking the symbol to the theme of The Fallacy of Saving a Partner Through Love.
The symbol’s meaning accumulates dramatic weight when it reappears during their first major breakup. As they sit in Ethan’s car and he ends their situationship, Sloane observes that “he was wearing the same Yankees T-shirt that I met him in” (84). The return of the shirt creates narrative symmetry, juxtaposing the hopeful beginning with the painful conclusion. The shirt no longer represents promise but rather the gap between the idealized man Sloane thought Ethan was and the emotionally unavailable person he revealed himself to be.
The Nickname “Hart”
Ethan’s unique nickname for Sloane, “Hart,” is a complex motif that encapsulates their “almost relationship.” From their first conversation, Ethan uses the nickname to establish a special rapport. When he first says it, Sloane reflects that “[t]he name rolled off his tongue like he’d been waiting his entire life to say it” (7). This immediately makes her feel singled out and creates a sense of a bond that transcends a typical introduction. The constant repetition of “Hart” becomes the primary linguistic signifier of their undefined connection. It is a term of endearment that is exclusively his to use, marking a claim on her affections that stands in for the real commitment she desires. The nickname gives her the feeling of being special to him, reflecting her tendency to seek self-worth through external validation.
The motif is also ironic, as the name itself alludes to the very thing Ethan is unable to fully accept: her heart. He can claim her “Hart” in a casual, charming way, but he consistently rejects the opportunity to open his heart to her. This irony highlights the central conflict of their relationship. Ethan’s use of the nickname is a way for him to maintain a level of intimacy on his own terms, one that is light and easily retractable, rather than emotionally meaningful and binding.
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