Laurinda: Symbols

In Laurinda, the tampon incident holds significant symbolic meaning, particularly in the context of power, control, and shame. When the Cabinet uses a tampon to humiliate a teacher, it symbolizes their dominance and cruelty. The act shows how the Cabinet manipulates both students and authority figures, using personal, intimate objects as weapons of power.

Key Symbolism of the Tampon Incident:

1. Power and Dominance: The Cabinet’s use of a tampon to humiliate a teacher symbolises their control over others. By taking something private and using it in a public and degrading way, they assert their dominance over both the teacher and the students who witness it. The tampon becomes a weapon of power, showing how the Cabinet can manipulate situations to maintain control.
2. Shame and Exploitation of Taboos: The tampon, a symbol of menstruation and often a private, natural aspect of being female, is turned into a tool of public humiliation. This highlights the Cabinet’s ability to exploit societal taboos, particularly around the female body, in order to shame others. By using something so personal and typically kept hidden, they strip away the dignity of their target and make it a spectacle.
3. Toxic Power Dynamics: For Lucy, witnessing this event is a moment of growing awareness about the toxic power dynamics at Laurinda. It shows her how the Cabinet uses personal aspects of life to manipulate and control those around them. The incident makes clear the extent to which the Cabinet will go to belittle others and reinforce their own position of power.
4. Female Body and Vulnerability: The tampon also represents the vulnerability of the female body and the way the Cabinet exploits it. By using it as a means of humiliation, the incident highlights how women’s bodies are often subjected to control and judgment, reinforcing themes of power and gender in the story.

Overall, the tampon incident is a disturbing example of how the Cabinet uses power, manipulation, and shame to maintain control, while also reinforcing the toxic and exploitative environment that Lucy struggles to navigate.

In Laurinda, the newspaper on the floor at Lucy's house symbolises the contrast between Lucy's working-class, immigrant family life and the wealthier, more privileged world of Laurinda.

Key Symbolism of the Newspaper:

1. Cultural and Class Divide: The newspaper on the floor reflects the practical, resourceful nature of Lucy's family, who use it for functional purposes, such as catching dirt from shoes. This is a simple, everyday act in their household, yet it stands in stark contrast to the luxury and refinement of Laurinda, where such practices might be seen as low-class or improper. The newspaper symbolizes the economic and cultural divide that Lucy experiences between her home life and the elite school environment.
2. Lucy's Identity and Humility: The newspaper is also a reminder of Lucy's roots and her family's immigrant background. It reflects their humble living conditions and how they manage with what they have, a sharp contrast to the extravagance of Laurinda. For Lucy, the newspaper serves as a grounding symbol, reminding her of her family's values and the reality of her background amidst the pressures to fit into a more privileged world.
3. Unpolished Reality: The newspaper highlights the unpolished, practical reality of Lucy's life at home, where things are done out of necessity rather than for appearance. This stands against the image-conscious world of Laurinda, where everything is about maintaining a facade of wealth, power, and status.

Overall, the newspaper on the floor serves as a subtle but powerful symbol of the socioeconomic and cultural differences Lucy navigates as she moves between the two very different worlds of her home and Laurinda.

In Laurinda, the Laurinda blazer symbolises conformity, privilege, and the pressure to fit into the elite culture of the school. The blazer, part of the school uniform, represents the identity and expectations of Laurinda Ladies' College—one of wealth, tradition, and social status.

Key Symbolism of the Blazer:

1. Belonging and Conformity: Wearing the blazer is a visible sign of being part of the Laurinda community, but it also represents the pressure Lucy feels to conform to the school’s values and culture. It symbolizes the tension between her working-class, immigrant background and the elite, privileged world of Laurinda. Putting on the blazer means trying to fit in, even though she feels like an outsider.
2. Class and Privilege: The blazer is a marker of the school's wealth and social standing. For students like Lucy, who is at Laurinda on a scholarship, it represents the divide between the privileged students and those, like her, who don’t come from money. The blazer is a reminder of the difference in social class and the expectations that come with being a Laurinda girl.
3. Loss of Individuality: For Lucy, the blazer can also symbolise the risk of losing her sense of self as she tries to navigate this new world. The uniformity of the blazer reflects how the school tries to mold its students into a particular image, pushing them to adopt certain behaviours and attitudes to fit the school’s elite reputation.

Overall, the Laurinda blazer represents the external pressures Lucy faces to adapt to the school's culture of privilege, while also highlighting the inner conflict between staying true to herself and fitting into an environment that values appearances and status.

In Laurinda, the rice paper rolls symbolise Lucy's cultural identity and her connection to her family and heritage. When Lucy brings these rice paper rolls to Amber's party, they serve as a subtle but significant contrast to the refined, Western foods that dominate the world of Laurinda.

Key Symbolism of the Rice Paper Rolls:

1. Cultural Identity: The rice paper rolls represent Lucy's immigrant background and her Vietnamese heritage. They are a traditional food that connects her to her family, and by bringing them to the party, Lucy attempts to share a part of her culture with the elite girls at Laurinda. The rice paper rolls, therefore, symbolise her desire to stay true to who she is while navigating the new, unfamiliar world of privilege at Laurinda.
2. Cultural Clash and Discomfort: The reaction to the rice paper rolls at the party highlights the cultural divide between Lucy and the other girls. The girls’ dismissive or confused reaction to the food illustrates how out of place Lucy feels in this world where her cultural values and practices are not understood or respected. The rice paper rolls symbolise how Lucy’s heritage is often viewed as different or foreign, reinforcing her sense of being an outsider in the elite world of Laurinda.
3. Authenticity vs. Superficiality: The rice paper rolls also symbolise authenticity in contrast to the superficiality of the Laurinda world. Where the elite girls are concerned with appearances and fitting in, the rice paper rolls represent something real and genuine from Lucy's life. They serve as a reminder of her true self and the things that are important to her, contrasting with the image-driven culture of the school.

Overall, the rice paper rolls are a symbol of Lucy's cultural roots and the tension she experiences between staying true to herself and trying to fit into the privileged, Westernised world of Laurinda.

In Laurinda, the photograph of Mr. Sinclair, the former principal, represents the old values and traditions of Laurinda Ladies' College. The photo symbolizes the school’s past, which upholds rigid social hierarchies, privilege, and an elitist culture.

The photo is prominently displayed in the school, serving as a reminder of the authority and control that the institution has historically maintained over its students. It reflects how the school, even under new leadership, still clings to its past values of exclusivity and tradition. For Lucy, the scholarship student, the photograph can also be seen as a symbol of the obstacles she faces in fitting into this world of power and privilege, which continues to be shaped by people like Mr. Sinclair, even in his absence.

Key Symbolism of the Photograph:

1. Old Values and Traditions: The photograph represents the old-school values of Laurinda, which include rigid social hierarchies, privilege, and exclusivity. Even though Mr. Sinclair is no longer present, his image in the school serves as a reminder of the past when these values were strictly upheld.
2. Authority and Control: The photo symbolizes the authority that Mr. Sinclair held, and by extension, the ongoing control the institution exerts over its students. It shows how the school still holds onto its traditional structures of power, even under new leadership.
3. Obstacles for Lucy: For Lucy, the photograph represents the barriers she faces as a scholarship student in a world of privilege. The presence of Mr. Sinclair’s image in the school symbolizes how the past and its elitist culture continue to shape her experience and remind her of the challenges she faces in trying to belong to this exclusive world.
4. Enduring Elitism: The photo also symbolizes the school's enduring elitism. Despite any changes in leadership or policies, the photograph suggests that the school's values and traditions are deeply ingrained and continue to influence the students’ experiences, particularly those who are not part of the privileged elite, like Lucy.

Overall, the photograph is a powerful symbol of the unchanging nature of the school's elitist history and the ongoing influence of its past on the present, especially in terms of the social and cultural divides that Lucy must navigate.

Overall, the photo stands for the school’s unyielding nature and the ongoing influence of its elitist history.

In Laurinda, the organza sweet bags at Amber's party symbolise the artificiality, privilege, and performative nature of the Laurinda elite. These bags, delicate and decorative, reflect the outward appearance of wealth and sophistication, but they also suggest superficiality and a focus on image over substance.

Key Symbolism of the Organza Sweet Bags:

1. Privilege and Wealth: The organza sweet bags are a clear marker of wealth and luxury. They are not just ordinary treat bags, but ornate and extravagant, showing the extent to which Amber and her social circle are accustomed to a life of excess. These bags highlight the gap between Lucy’s humble background and the affluent lifestyle of Laurinda’s students.
2. Superficiality and Facade: The bags, while beautiful, represent the surface-level focus of the girls at Laurinda, particularly the Cabinet. They are more concerned with appearances and status than with genuine connections or values. The organza sweet bags symbolise the carefully constructed facades the girls maintain—polished on the outside but lacking depth and sincerity underneath.
3. Performance of Generosity: The bags might also reflect how acts of generosity or friendship in the Laurinda world are often performative. Amber’s party and the organza bags give the impression of generosity and charm, but they are more about showing off wealth than about true kindness or inclusivity. The lavishness of the bags is part of the social performance, much like the Cabinet’s actions.

Overall, the organza sweet bags symbolise the performative, materialistic culture of Laurinda and its students, contrasting sharply with Lucy’s own values and background. They highlight the divide between true worth and the illusion of wealth and status that defines the elite world she finds herself in.