How does Julia idealize Mark and Helen? To what extent is her perception of them reliable? Using textual evidence, examine how her feelings of inadequacy color these perceptions.

Compare and contrast Anita, Julia, and Alma. What are their common characteristics? Explore how they influence each other, using textual evidence.

Julia grew up in a poor, working-class household. How does this background impact the text’s portrayal of upper-middle-class suburban life and class mobility?