38 pages • 1 hour read
Sylvia DayBared To You
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012A 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
Falling
Day chooses to highlight each of Eva and Gideon’s first meetings with a fall. In the lobby of the Crossfire Building, Eva is enraptured with Gideon’s beauty and loses all sense of control. Her attraction to Gideon is instant and undeniable. Eva senses the dominance in Gideon from their first meeting as she looks in his eyes and senses “a near-tangible impression of vibrant and unrelenting power” (5). The physical act of falling leaves her in a vulnerable position, a reality that will come to fruition throughout the novel as she learns to trust Gideon with the truth about her traumatic past and with her heart. Day uses the physical act of falling to portray sudden and intense attraction that draws Eva and Gideon together almost instantaneously. Eva loses all control in the presence of Gideon, who pushes her to question the patterns of survival she has employed throughout her life. As they navigate the obstacles of their relationship, Eva and Gideon return to this instant attraction that physically pulls them in to recalibrate and reconnect with themselves.
Running Away
Desperate to regain control of her life after her childhood sexual abuse, Eva chooses independence as a shield to protect her from being hurt. She acknowledges throughout the novel that running away from intense emotions and confrontation has become a pattern for her that allows her to maintain a distance. Time and time again, Eva faces complex situations in her relationship with fellow survivor Gideon and escapes. It is only when Gideon confronts her that Eva chooses to make efforts to change her ways and adapt her methods of protection. Gideon expresses to Eva that “‘I can’t stand feeling like any moment I’m going to do or say something wrong and you’re going to bolt’” (216). Despite his best attempts, Eva still struggles to overcome her skewed sense of self-preservation. Gideon builds a room for Eva in his home that he calls “‘your safe place’” (240). Through Gideon’s patience and dedication, Eva learns the consequences of her patterns of behavior. Through Eva, Day underscores plight of survivors searching for safety in a world that stripped them of their innocence. Day offers hope in the character of Eva who learns to adapt under the protection of her committed relationship.
Rings
Rings typically represent a long-term commitment such as marriage. Gideon presents a ring to Eva as a representation of their committed and unique bond. He designs the ring with “gold ropelike bands” that signify the bonds that unite them (244). Eva and Gideon understand the complexities of each other’s trauma deeply. Their shared experiences drive Eva and Gideon to work towards reconciliation no matter the obstacles they face as a couple. Gideon carefully chooses the imagery on the ring to symbolize their dynamic relationship. The rope imagery alludes to the roles of dominator and submissive he and Eva take, respectively, in their sex life. “Decorated with Xs covered in diamonds,” the ring also represents Gideon, whose last name is Cross (244). Commonly, an X is used to represent a cross, a symbol of pain sacrifice that has Christian connotations. The lavish nature of the Xs represent Gideon’s extraordinary wealth and the overabundance of lust and love he pours over Eva. By accepting the ring and its symbolism, Eva agrees to the dynamics of hers and Gideon’s relationship. She solidifies this agreement when she purchase a ring of her own for Gideon. She chooses “an industrial-looking ring that made me think of power and bondage” and calls the ring “a dominant ring, very bold and masculine” (256). The austere appearance of the ring matches Gideon’s domineering demeanor. The act of gifting Gideon the ring symbolizes Eva’s agreement to her role as submissive to Gideon’s dominator and her enduring commitment to their relationship.
