When She Returned

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child abuse, self-harm, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

There are three instances of violins in the novel, and each contributes to its use as a symbol of Kate’s life before leaving Scott and Abbi. Scott recalls Kate’s playing, and Abbi says she watched an old video of Kate’s recitals, which contributes to their memories of Kate as a fun, engaging person. However, the videos of these recitals were burned with the rest of Kate’s belongings during the funeral Scott, Abbi, and Meredith hosted to move on from Kate’s disappearance. The burning of these videos represents the “death” of Kate as Scott and Abbi knew her, highlighting how Kate is not the same person when she returns. 

This change is then further cemented by Kate’s refusal to play the violin when she returns, noting that she has not heard any music in 11 years. Kate no longer plays the violin because she is not the same person that she was prior to leaving her family. Instead, Abbi plays the violin, which forms a symbolic connection between Abbi and her idealized image of Kate.

The violin represents a version of Kate that is not real, though the Kate symbolized by the violin did exist at some point prior to her disappearance.