ness. The reason the couples are all at thebeach house is because her brother, who has recently died of AIDS, left it to her. Thehouse is as empty and akward as each of their lives and marriages. It represents the failedhopes of all the characters, but especially Sally. The first real evidence we see of Sallysbreakthrough is when she speaks to Chloes kids. She has just seen a dead man that shehad feared to have drowned earlier. The reason your father doesnt want you to go for ahayride in the rain is that he loves you and he doesnt want anything to happen to youwhile hes away and unable to protect you . . . Im feeling very sad and angry andunlistened to right now. Thats why its so important you understand me. I saw a terriblething this afternoon. I saw what happens when were not loved and protected and we feelso alone. (McNally 73-74). Sally is spilling her feelings to a child who doesntunderstand anything she is saying. This is the first time Sally has really stated thesefeelings out loud, and faced them as a reality. Another example of Sallys strength inrealizing and facing her weaknesses is the incident by the pool. No one will actually getinto the pool because they are afraid of getting AIDS, but they will not admit this to eachother. Sally: We all think its infected. We all think its polluted. We all think well getAIDS and die if we go in. John: When did you develop this uncanny ability of yours tosay absolutely the most inappropiate thing you could think of? Sally: Everybodysthinking them. Ive merely decided to say them. (McNally 80-81). This is one of themost important statements Sally makes because it truly captures her new discovery ofherself and her attempt to break through the strict bonds of society that all the othercharacters follow. Sally has begun to find true meaning to her life, so that she is not just ahousewife who knows how to have fun. She wants her own identity as a woman, not as awife. Inste...
