Anna’s Coat Symbol Analysis

The coat Anna buys after Walter gives her money for the first time symbolizes the worldly comforts and luxuries that she gains from dating a wealthy older man. Walter sends her money in an envelope after their first dinner together and includes a note saying that he’s worried about her. He hopes she’ll use this money to go shopping, and that’s exactly what she does. When he later abandons her, the coat she bought with this money is one of the only things she has to show for their relationship. Because it was so expensive, it confers a certain amount of societal status onto her, but not necessarily in a way that brings good things into her life. For instance, the coat attracts Ethel Matthew’s attention because she can immediately tell that it cost a lot of money. And though Ethel shows Anna kindness at first, her main motivation is to get as much money out of her as possible. In fact, Ethel ends up showing an utter lack of empathy for Anna by kicking her out of her flat when she learns that she’s pregnant, at which point Anna has no choice but to sell the coat in the hopes of using the money to pay for an abortion. And yet, she doesn’t even receive enough money to fully cover the procedure. Although the coat started out by representing the rich and luxurious lifestyle that comes along with dating wealthy older men, then, it ends up symbolizing the fact that such relationships seldom amount to much. In the same way that Anna’s intense romance with Walter crumbles into nothing but sorrow, the coat’s expensive allure leaves Anna with nothing but selfish companions and a measly 10 quid.