When Juliet first arrives in Venice at 18 years old, she deems Venice “the city of bells and birds” (8). The sounds of both bells and birds recur throughout the novel, with both Juliet and Caroline noting their appearance. The light, vibrant sound of the bells and the flight of the birds reflect the freedom that the characters long for and so rarely achieve. Venice itself acts as an embodiment of the life of freedom and happiness for Juliet, who falls in love with the city on her first night. Juliet notes the sounds of birds and bells many times while visiting or living in Venice, and they serve as reminders of the freedom for which she longs but is denied. When Caroline goes to Venice, she also notes the sounds of birds and bells, and unlike Juliet, she is able to grab hold of the freedom Venice offers.

The keys that Caroline receives as part of her inheritance from Great-Aunt Lettie are symbols of the secrets Caroline seeks to uncover. Juliet lived a life of secrets, trying to forget the heartache of her losses after World War II. Despite the long years of hiding her past, she leaves Caroline with the keys that not only provide Caroline access to the apartment but also reveal Juliet’s carefully guarded secrets.