54 pages • 1 hour read
Elsie SilverFlawless
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Bull Riding
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of emotional abuse.
Bull riding is not just a career for Rhett; it is something that he has convinced himself he can’t live without. He says, “Riding bulls is a high I can’t replace. A rush I can’t stop chasing” (41). The sport symbolizes the dichotomy between risk and control and the battle between weakness and strength. Throughout the novel, bull riding becomes a metaphor for Rhett’s and Summer’s transformative journeys, which take place at the complex intersection of resilience, recklessness, and self-discovery. Riding a raging bull is an attempt to tame pure chaos, and this dynamic image captures the tension between control and surrender, acting as a powerful metaphor for Rhett’s life and his relationship with Summer. On the surface, he thrives in a world where physical strength and endurance define success, but the inherent unpredictability of bull riding also reflects Rhett’s internal fears, illustrating the fact that his external pressures and personal insecurities threaten to destroy his sense of stability. As Rhett begins to move beyond the ambition of staying on a bull for eight seconds, his bull-riding career becomes a metaphor for exploring his willingness to build a more meaningful life beyond this dangerous vocation.
Bull riding is deeply tied to Rhett’s sense of identity and purpose. Summer recognizes that he was made to do it when she observes, “Rhett is poetry in motion. He doesn’t fight the bull, it’s like he becomes an extension of it. One hand up high, body swaying naturally, never losing balance” (113). The sport demands physical toughness, mental grit, and unwavering resilience, three traits that are projected in Rhett’s public persona as someone who prides himself on being unbreakable. Despite the fact that he is now aging out of the sport, Rhett is experiencing a winning streak as he rides increasingly challenging bulls, and this pattern convinces him to chase just one more championship. Moreover, he has spent much of his career with no familial support, and now that Summer is his biggest fan, his love of the sport becomes inextricably tied to his connection to her. However, the toll of his injuries symbolizes the fragility of this image of himself as invincible, and Rhett is ultimately forced to confront the limits of his abilities. The tension between his body’s deterioration and his drive to compete forces him to redefine his identity and move beyond the need for external achievements.
Bull riding’s inherent danger also symbolizes the risks required in navigating different seasons of life. Despite his injuries, Rhett’s compulsion to ride one last time reflects his need to prove something to himself and to the world, representing his desire to confront his fears and find closure. This need parallels his developing relationship with Summer, who demands that he choose either her or the rodeo world. Rhett’s willingness to embrace uncertainty becomes a new path to success as he trades a physical risk for an emotional one. With all its thrills and action, bull riding is a symbolic backdrop for Rhett’s journey toward greater emotional maturity as he experiences the highs and lows of facing life’s challenges head-on. His time in the arena and with Summer teaches him that growth often requires both risk and surrender.
“Princess”
When Kip introduces Rhett to Summer, he calls her his “princess,” denoting his idealized view of her as someone whom he must protect and cherish. By calling her a pet name that invokes an image of royalty, Kip invokes an image of unconditional love that also contains problematic connotations of privilege, reinforcing the nepotism involved in Summer’s position in his firm. He sees her as special, but this fatherly form of idealization creates an unequal power balance. Summer longs to be seen as her father’s equal, but his affectionate nickname proves spiritually harmful, as it imprisons her in a fixed, childlike role. The nickname reminds her of the weight of Kip’s expectations and showcases the gap that exists between how he sees her and how she sees herself.
Initially, Rhett adopts the nickname as a jab, viewing Summer as stuck-up and entitled, qualities that he abhors. The nickname therefore reinforces their initial “enemy” dynamic and conveys Rhett’s reflexive contempt for her role as a “babysitter” and guardian of his public image. Additionally, Rhett himself is far from a prince on a white horse; he is instead a rugged, dirty cowboy on a bucking bronco. Soon enough, however, the tone between the two protagonists shifts to playful banter, and Rhett uses the nickname as a way to provoke Summer and hide his growing attraction to her. Thus, while Kip’s use of the nickname infantilizes Summer, making it clear that she belongs to him, Rhett reinvents the label as a mandate for Summer’s autonomy and independence.
As their relationship deepens, the nickname becomes more affectionate, especially when Rhett begins to see beyond Summer’s polished exterior and recognizes her strength and complexity. The nickname then becomes less about teasing her perceived perfection and more about acknowledging her honorable place in his life. As their romantic connection materializes, Rhett’s use of the term “princess” evolves to display his care and tenderness, signaling a shift from flirty banter to genuine affection. When he uses the nickname in this way, Summer lowers her defenses, realizing that she feels seen and valued despite her insecurities. As she reflects, “I should hate that goddamn nickname, borne of mocking me for being who I am, but suddenly it feels like a shot straight to my core. Like praise. Like worship” (183). Thus, the nickname evolves from a harmful, dismissive label into a loving epithet that empowers Summer and affirms that she is someone who deserves adoration and pleasure. The term becomes a verbal emblem of Rhett’s commitment to value her above all else, and the progression of the moniker therefore parallels the development of their relationship, becoming a term of respect and reflecting the depths of their newfound emotional intimacy.
Summer’s Surgery Scar
Summer’s heart surgery scar symbolizes her physical and emotional wounds. Her heart surgery and subsequent health issues were not merely a medical event; they also serve as a symbolic cornerstone of her identity and her relationships with others, particularly her father and Rob. The trauma of such a defining experience, combined with the complexities of her family life, has led her to guard her heart both literally and figuratively. Throughout the story, she is keenly aware of her heartbeat and how it changes as she becomes more attracted to Rhett. As she reflects, “I’m always aware of my heart now. The change in rhythm, in intensity—I’ll never not think about it” (325). Her hesitation to fully trust others stems from this early brush with mortality, and her emotional barriers have been erected to protect herself and maintain control over her life. However, what she remembers most about her past health issues is that her father never left her side, and in her mind, his dedication overshadows his other faults. The motif comes full circle when Kip experiences a mild heart attack and Summer suddenly finds herself by his bedside, for she takes on the caregiving role that he once fulfilled for her.
Summer’s heart condition also reminds her of her complicated relationship with Rob, whose dual roles in her life have blurred the boundaries between his professional obligations and his personal desires, complicating Summer’s ability to hold him accountable for his acts of cruelty and manipulation. Although he repaired her physical heart, he deeply wounded her soul. His medical knowledge of her heart condition also fuels his hubris, as he mistakenly believes that his role in saving her life gives him the right to dictate how she lives it.
Despite these issues, Summer’s scar does not represent her insecurities or imperfections; instead, it stands as a reminder of her resilience and will to survive. Rhett’s acceptance and admiration of her and her scars goes a long way toward facilitating her emotional healing, as she describes his love by saying that it is as if “he can see [her] patchwork heart right through [her] ribs” (217). The jagged scar is therefore a testament to Summer’s ability to endure challenges and overcome the complexities of her history. Just as her heart surgery saved her life, her emotional battles now lead her to rediscover her strength and self-worth. She wears the scar as a badge of honor that reflects her ability to face adversity and become all the stronger for it.
