Frank and Juliana's Lingering Bond

Even after divorce, Frank Frink cannot stop mourning his former wife, and Juliana carries him with her into her journey.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Hexagram for Juliana

The Hexagram for Juliana Context Frank Frink asks the I Ching whether he will ever see Juliana again. He receives Hexagram Forty-four, Coming to Meet, with the warning that the maiden is powerful and should not be married. Turning Point He sees that the oracle still reminds him of his love. Her face haunts him even as he prepares for an ordinary day. Significance Their bond is maintained through the I Ching, which keeps her alive in Frank's mind. The divorce has not ended the attachment.

The Girl in the Jewelry

The Girl in the Jewelry Context As the jewelry business takes shape, Frank imagines Juliana wearing the pieces, modeling for their catalog. He misses her intelligence and her beauty. Turning Point He thinks about her with another man, and it twists his stomach. He still believes he can win her back by becoming a success. Significance The jewelry business is not only a livelihood; it is a way to deserve Juliana again. The emotional tie is the fuel for his desire to create.

The Unsent Call

The Unsent Call Context In the motel office, Juliana suddenly reverses the charges to Frank in San Francisco. The operator places the call, but no one answers. Turning Point She lets it ring and then gives up. The fleeting impulse to reconnect dies, and she walks out into the night. Significance The failed call shows both the persistence and the fragility of their bond. Each thinks of the other at the same time, but they can no longer meet.

A New Man in Her Life

A New Man in Her Life Context Juliana's relationship with Joe is a distorted echo of her marriage to Frank. She is again drawn to a dangerous man who wants to use her. Turning Point She kills Joe, and in doing so she breaks the pattern of submitting to men's needs. Her thoughts turn briefly to Frank, but not as a refuge. Significance The violence between Juliana and Joe is the negative image of her bond with Frank. It clears a space in her heart that is no longer certain of Frank's place.

The Possibility of Returning

The Possibility of Returning Context At the Abendsens' house, Caroline asks where Juliana will go. Juliana says she does not know, then adds that she might try her husband again. Turning Point She is no longer sure of the future, but the thread to Frank is still there. Her task has transformed her, but it has not erased the old bond. Significance The novel leaves Frank and Juliana's fate open. Their emotional tie remains one of the few human constants in a fractured world.

the morning Frank consults the I Ching about his ex-wife

while Frink and McCarthy prepare to sell their first batch

when Juliana tries to phone Frank from Cheyenne

when Juliana kills Joe Cinnadella

when Juliana says she may go back to Frank