The natural landscape and the winter storm in “The Painted Door” serve as a metaphor for Anne’s sense of isolation.
The story begins with the description of the we The winter storm symbolizes Ann’s inner conflict between John and Steven. Ann is a vacillating character and it is shown through Ann’s thoughts. Like the inconsistent weather, she changes her thoughts. When John leaves the house, Ann accepts that “all farmers’ wives have to stay alone”, and waited John and Steven to be at the house. However, as she recalled her life as a farmer’s wife, she starts blaming John for her dreary life and unhappiness. She adds that John will never understand her and that he “never saw their lives objectively”.
However, she holds herself that she must not think him that way because “she married him and he is a good man”.