A Nearly Normal Family

The pink Vespa is a significant symbol of the miscommunication and disconnect between Adam and Stella. Chosen by Adam as a gift, the Vespa is intended to symbolize freedom and independence. However, it ironically highlights Adam’s lack of understanding of Stella’s actual needs and desires. The Vespa’s color and the fact that it isn’t what Stella explicitly wanted are reminders of Adam’s projections and assumptions about his daughter. This misalignment between Adam’s perceptions and Stella’s reality underscores the broader theme of communication breakdown within the family. The Vespa thus becomes a metaphor for the superficial appearance of a happy family, masking issues of misunderstanding and emotional distance.

Edvardsson uses the biblical story of Job as a recurrent motif to emphasize themes of faith, suffering, and Subjective Morality and the Ambiguity of Justice. Adam, a pastor, frequently compares his struggles to Job’s, a righteous man who faces extreme trials but retains his faith. He even discusses the story explicitly with Ulrika, who humorously questions Adam’s identification with Job—an interaction that underscores the gap between Adam’s self-image and the reality of his situation.

The Job motif highlights Adam’s faith crisis. Traditionally a source of guidance, his faith falters as he confronts unprecedented moral dilemmas.