The Enchanted April

The castle is a complex and important symbol whose meaning shifts as the novel progresses. Initially it symbolizes opportunities and the lure of the unknown, representing a kind of escape, but soon becomes a site of transformation. This makes it a key symbol of both The Importance of Self-Discovery and Freedom and The Transformative Power of Acceptance and Understanding.

For both Mrs. Wilkins and Mrs. Arbuthnot, it represents the ability to escape a life that has become drab and without meaning. It also represents the chance to indulge and center themselves rather than their husbands. Mrs. Arbuthnot, deeply unhappy in her marriage, distracts herself with church charity work. Mrs. Wilkins has been forced to build her life around her husband’s needs and interests and has lost touch with her unique identity. Mrs. Arbuthnot feels guilty about the prospect of a “frivolous” vacation, but not guilty enough to forgo the trip. Mrs. Wilkins is more willing to cater to her own desires, and it is in part because of her enthusiasm that Mrs. Arbuthnot allows herself to go.

The castle also comes to symbolize freedom and self-determination. Each of the women who vacation there have had the course of their lives determined by forces outside of their control.