A Woman on a Roof

The unnamed, mostly silent woman who operates as an antagonist in the story does so in a context of dramatic irony. It is clear to the reader that the men’s unwelcome advances impinge on her freedom, and that she ignores them to protect herself and preserve her autonomy. The men, however, interpret her silence according to their own self-absorbed imaginations. Stanley grows enraged, all his insecurities about class and masculinity triggered. Tom misreads it entirely and, in his naivete, creates a romantic fantasy world in which the two of them become romantically and sexually involved. When he finally speaks to the woman face to face, she makes him realize that their “relationship” had no reality, but even then, he cannot see his own foolishness, and instead he blames her for misunderstanding him.

The symbolism of white reminds us that women are supposed to be pure until they marry, while the color red connotes sexuality, heat, anger, and arousal. As seen on the woman, the little red pants that she folds into a