Caraval

The scarlet stone earrings act as a symbol of security and hope. Scarlett’s father gifted her mother, Paloma, the scarlet stone earrings, which Paloma later gave to Scarlett because they matched her name. The earrings aren’t worth much, but they mean everything to Scarlett because the earrings are a relic of a time when her family was together and stable. By reminding Scarlett of a secure past, the earrings also give Scarlett hope for a better future. When the man in the bowler hat steals her earrings, Scarlett panics, despite the fact that she is not a materialistic person. By losing this item, she loses the only proximity she has to her mother and the only tangible proof that her family once functioned as a loving unit. When Julian recovers the earrings, he restores her sense of safety and hope. She feels safe with Julian, who cares enough about her to go through the trouble of retrieving the earrings, and there’s hope for the future when she has someone who loves her enough to get them back.

Balconies appear as a motif all over in the world in the Caraval and hint at the theme that some things are worth risk.