The Perfect House Symbol Analysis

The Perfect House, the pure white Colonial-style house where Holling lives, symbolizes the Hoodhood family’s dysfunctional dynamic. Holling’s father, who nicknamed the house, does everything in his power to make the home appear perfect—even going so far as to keep the furniture, especially in the formal “Perfect Living Room," covered in plastic. However, the Perfect House, like the Hoodhood family itself, only appears perfect to outsiders. Although the Hoodhood family seems ideal, Holling's dad is cruel and selfish, while Holling’s mother is scared and unwilling to stand up to her husband. As the novel progresses, the house gradually changes to reflect this dysfunction. For example, on the night that Mr. Hoodhood is going to be named Chamber of Commerce Businessman of 1967, the ceiling of the Perfect Living Room collapses, exposing mold and disgusting, permanent damage that had been invisible from the outside.