Great Big Beautiful Life

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

“She’s been scrubbed clear of any glamour, or air of money and power, but that sly sparkle in her blue eyes is exactly the same.”

Alice sees Margaret’s enduring spirit despite the erosion of her external appearance. The imagery suggests that time, scandal, or age has stripped away her once-elevated social facade. However, her eyes remain unchanged, symbolizing the core of her identity. The passage affirms that Margaret’s resilience surpasses privilege and image collapse.

“I know better than most that you can rarely tell who a person really is, or what they’re going through, just from looking at the surface.”

Alice acknowledges that external impressions are often misleading and that hard-earned wisdom is gained through personal experience. Her empathy asserts that everyone carries unseen burdens or stories. She has been misunderstood and learned this truth through pain, so she extends grace to others. The passage reinforces the novel’s focus on the complexity of identity and the importance of looking beyond the surface to understand someone’s truth.

“He really does remind me of some huge, wild animal. Not dangerous, but skittish.”

Alice initially sees Hayden as powerful and fragile, establishing him as a complex figure. However, the description reveals a vulnerability beneath his confident exterior. The simile suggests that while he may seem imposing or emotionally guarded, he’s cautious and easily startled by intimacy or unpredictability. This foreshadows his struggle with vulnerability in their relationship.