55 pages • 1 hour read
Danielle SteelTriangle
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Lulu
Lulu, Amanda’s toy poodle, is a symbol that supports the themes of The Link Between Love and Marriage and Embracing Vulnerability in Interpersonal and Romantic Relationships. Lulu’s presence in Amanda’s life is more than that of a pet; she symbolizes the stability and unconditional love that Amanda craves but has struggled to find in human relationships. Amanda often refers to Lulu as her “soulmate,” a title that underscores the depth of their bond and the emotional security Lulu provides. In a world where people have repeatedly betrayed Amanda’s trust, Lulu becomes her constant and unchanging source of comfort.
Lulu also reflects Amanda’s protective nature and reluctance to expose herself to emotional harm. Amanda is fiercely devoted to Lulu, and her careful attention to Lulu’s needs mirrors her hesitancy in opening herself up fully to others. This protective instinct highlights Amanda’s fear of vulnerability as she channels her love and trust into a relationship where she feels safe from betrayal. Unlike the complexities and risks of romantic relationships, Lulu offers Amanda a pure and uncomplicated form of love.
As Amanda learns to navigate her relationship with Olivier and confronts her fears of intimacy, Lulu’s presence serves as a reminder of the love and trust Amanda can offer. In this sense, Lulu symbolizes Amanda’s potential for healing and affection. By the novel’s end, Amanda’s journey toward trusting herself and others mirrors her unwavering devotion to Lulu.
Paris
Paris is a recurring motif that reflects the themes of Embracing Vulnerability in Interpersonal and Romantic Relationships. For Amanda, Paris represents a physical and emotional home, though it takes her years to accept it. Straddling her mother’s American influences and her father’s French heritage, Amanda often feels displaced, belonging wholly to neither culture. This duality mirrors her internal struggles with identity. However, after attending an American college and reflecting on her experiences, Amanda realizes her identity aligns more closely with her French upbringing. Returning to Paris, she begins to find her place, embracing its culture and rhythm as an intrinsic part of her identity.
Paris, a city of romance and beauty, also contributes to the novel’s exploration of Appearances, Perceptions, and Reality. The city is complex, much like the characters’ lives. Amanda’s apartment overlooking the Eiffel Tower symbolizes her outward success and curated life. However, its vulnerability—exploited by Tom during his break-ins—parallels Amanda’s vulnerability and the balance between safety and control. For Stephanie, Paris represents a space of conformity, where her marriage stifles her ability to live authentically. However, her eventual confession to Olivier and the decision to live openly with Lizzie signify a break from societal expectations. In doing so, she can reclaim Paris as a place where she can live authentically rather than perform according to societal expectations.
Wedding Rings
In Triangle, wedding rings are more than just markers of marital status; they symbolize the characters’ internal and external conflicts and support the theme of Appearances, Perceptions, and Reality. When Amanda first meets Olivier, she checks whether he wears a wedding ring. Noticing its absence, she assumes he is either unmarried or divorced. This assumption highlights Amanda’s reliance on outward symbols to interpret deeper truths. In France, as Amanda points out, even separated or widowed men often continue wearing their rings as a form of social “protection.” The absence of Olivier’s ring deceives Amanda, leading her to invest emotionally in a man she later learns has been married for 26 years. This misunderstanding forces Amanda to confront her assumptions about love and trust and her past traumas with infidelity. Additionally, for Olivier, the absence of his wedding ring parallels his internal struggle with his identity as a husband in a loveless marriage. While he continues to fulfill his duties out of obligation, his lack of a ring signals his desire to distance himself from his marital reality.
For Stephanie, her wedding ring—or lack thereof—has a different meaning. Her marriage to Olivier is a societal facade rather than a symbol of romantic commitment. The absence of romantic and physical intimacy renders the ring a hollow representation of their union. By contrast, Stephanie’s long-term partnership with Lizzie culminates in an exchange of gold bands.
