Sophie dreamt of having a boutique after leaving school because it represented a sense of glamour, independence, and financial success that went beyond her working-class background and limited prospects. A boutique signified a more sophisticated and fashionable lifestyle, which she believed would set her apart from her current situation. The idea of owning a boutique also allowed her to escape, at least in her imagination, from the mundane reality of her life and aspire for something that her family might consider unattainable. Essentially, the dream of having a boutique was an expression of her desire for upward social mobility and a better life and also signified her yearning to escape from the drudgery of her real life.