Joy Stone searches for meaning and identity in the face of mental illness. Other characters are seen through Joy’s eyes and in relation to how they support, fail to support or take advantage of her.
Joy tries to establish an identity for herself in relation to men. There are four main men who she has relationships with:
Within the main timscale of the novel, Joy has sexual relationships with Tony and David. Both men take advantage of Joy’s vulnerability. Tony's motivation seems clear and while David makes some attempt to support Joy, any relationship they have is based on his timetable and needs.
For David’s Sunday visits she goes through an elaborate bathing and beautification process. She says Maybe I will be embraced, entered, made to exist
. However both these men fail to define Joy because they do not see her as a rounded person to be listened to and understood.
Joy takes on a passive role, and seems to have little active say in defining her relationships with men. This is true of her relationships with Mr Peach and the doctors and psychiatrists she comes into contact with. They take decisions about her. She seems ill prepared either to assert herself or get answers from them.