The Things She's Seen

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses rape, sexual violence, and racism against Indigenous Australians.

“My dress would always be as yellow and crisp as it had been on the day Aunty Viv drove me to the birthday party.”

Beth’s description of her yellow dress has a rueful, bittersweet tone that is typical of Beth’s attitude toward her own death. Bleak diction like the word “always” emphasizes the permanent nature of death, even as the symbolic meaning of the birthday party as a celebration of ongoing life conveys Beth’s over the fact that her own life ended prematurely. The symbolism of the dress’s color is also important, as yellow is implied to be a particularly bright and hopeful color. 

“As my Grandpa Jim had once said to me, Life doesn’t move through time, Bethie. Time moves through life.”

The quote that Beth shares from her grandfather demonstrates the ultimate importance of her family and elders. She uses this quote to explain her belief that the most important way to measure forward progress is through relationships, not through the notations of a ticking clock.

“In fact, when I let myself think too much about the unfairness of it all, I still get mad now. But I couldn’t lose myself to that, not when Dad had been left behind twice over.”

Beth’s is determined to remain strong for her father’s sake and has only remained behind in the world of the living to help him through his grief. However, it is also clear that she is resisting her own spiritual growth by forcing herself herself not to dwell on her own reactions to her death. Her resolution to help Michael reflects