Jeff had made himself a place, inside himself, a kind of tower room, round, without any windows. In that room, he had locked his memory of the beach on the island, all the memories from the day hours and from the night hours. He had discovered how to step inside that room and slide the curved door closed and bolt it across.
In "A Solitary Blue" by Cynthia Voigt, the character Jeff creates an internal sanctuary to cope with his experiences. This safe space, likened to a tower room, allows him to isolate his memories and emotions, particularly those linked to a beach on an island. The imagery of a round, windowless room symbolizes his desire for privacy and protection from his past pain.
By locking away the memories of both joyful and sorrowful moments, Jeff demonstrates a method of self-preservation. He learns to retreat into this mental space, which provides him with a sense of control over his thoughts and feelings. This inner room becomes a metaphor for his struggle with his identity and the process of healing.
