Audrey struggles to operate authentically in a society that expects her to be more interested in needlework and social gatherings than in the inner workings of the human body. She is intensely curious, but this curiosity—especially given it is in the gory field of human anatomy—is viewed as subversive and problematic. Most of the individuals in her life, including her father, her aunt, and even at times her uncle and brother, try to curb her personal freedoms and her hunger for learning in favor of having her behave in a more traditionally ladylike manner.

The clothing Audrey is expected to wear, a tight corset that limits her ability to breathe and voluminous skirts that limit her ability to move, illustrates Victorian society’s opinion that upper-class women are ornamental; that their clothing limits their abilities to move through the world is not considered a problem because they are not expected to participate in activities that require freedom of movement. Aubrey’s preference for riding breeches—which are intended to be worn only when riding a horse but which she finds practical and comfortable for everyday wear—demonstrates her subversiveness and her desire to be free of the restrictive rules which are placed upon women of her class.