A Corner of the Universe

The lovely Angel Valentine, “a grown woman” (61), represents the world of adult relationships and sexuality. Her dreamy name evokes a romance novel: “Angel” suggesting beauty and perfection, and “Valentine” calling to mind hearts and love. Angel offers Hattie a glimpse into the mysterious workings of boyfriend-girlfriend relationships that Hattie, approaching her teenage years, is increasingly curious about. Hattie watches dating on TV and gets encouragement from Miss Hagerty, but her understanding of sexuality is not yet mature. She thinks watching Henry arrive and sweep Angel away in his convertible is like a movie: tantalizingly close, but also distant. Hattie asks Angel, as a little sister might ask a big sister, if “liking each other very much” is what makes a relationship (107), a question Angel obliquely defects. Hattie is transfixed when she and Adam interrupt Henry and Angel about to have sex, and the sight of the half-naked couple excites her. Hattie’s interest in Angel’s sexuality suggests her transition to adolescence.

Adam’s interest in Angel is also sexual. Her beauty and her bosom transfix him—causing unwanted staring that he doesn’t have the social skills to repress.