The idea of freedom, or lack there of, is very prominent throughout the story. Updike previously described these three women as being carefree and willing to do anything they wanted, and always getting their way in their prime. But now, as they have grown older and a little wiser, the idea of freedom has slipped away from their vcabularies. They no longer feel as if they can do anything or conquer the world all at once with the bat of an eye or the flash of a smile. These women now understand that to gain freedom you must work for it first. But, not having to do this previously, they dont know how to go about getting what they want so they just figure that they should give up.
- page 46: "We're not free. You're never free of wanting. Sam Smart used to tell me, the c*** is very sensitive, but not very smart. It doesn't know when to quit."
This just reinforces the lost idea of freedom and the joy they used to feel and have no sense of how to get it back, which is tragic because they used to have so much fun and joy in their previous lives.
