Julia is hearing Anna’s story for the first time, which allows her to introduce fresh impressions of the Fitzgeralds into the novel. Most notably, Julia’s concern that Anna cares more about being heard than being emancipated adds another layer of complexity to Anna’s ambiguous motivations. Julia’s theory is subtly supported by Anna’s reaction to the polar bears, in which she becomes deeply sad at the thought of one of the cubs being sent away. Anna clearly fears being that cub, who is ostracized from her family for her “betrayal.”