This is simply a breakdown of who the characters are, what they symbolize, etc.
Steve (man)
Steve is an ass. He is both the archetype of a sexist business man, and a monster. Steve is married to Maria, a marriage he soon became bored of, mostly sexually, both also emotionally. To Steve, Maria is a psycho. She is dramatic, and she over reacts to every little thing he does, even though every time it is fully excused. Steve blames her for his misery. He never wanted kids, or a marriage, or a stable life like he has. Steve is a frat boy stuck in the body of a man, a man who chose his life, a man who escapes, a coward. Steve has hurt many people, mostly women. He has manipulated them for money, for sex, for validation. He is not a sociopath, he is just a narcissist who is blind to his errors and the effect he has on people.
Steve is also a pervert. I don't want to make it clear on the film, I want it to be inferred, but Steve molested Dainty when she was a child and he was his babysitter. He also feels no remorse as he sees her as a child who obviously cannot feel any type of trauma. This is the worst thing he has done.
I want to make it clear again. Steve is not a sociopath. The film would be obsolete if he was one. He is just highly narcissistic and manipulative, he is able to manipulate his mind into not feeling remorse, and into making him the victim, especially women.
Maria
Steve's psycho wife who is not psycho at all. She married him when she was young: a handsome, rich businessman who promised her the world. Named after the Virgin Mary, or la Virgen Maria as she is called in spanish, she represents "the wife". That who is not allowed to enjoy sex. That who must be the caretaker, who must put in the work during birth in a stable, while everybody comes to bother her and give the boy gifts, a he is His son. That who must not complain.
Maria wanted her life. She was under the impression that Steve wanted it too.
Dainty
The most important character. Named after Dante, as she is his guide during this film, Maria was the one who was hurt the worse.
She was molested young by Steve. The details of this do not matter, I don't want to make this film shocking or disturbing in that sense, it is not even going to be mentioned, simply implied. The audience is allowed to make their own interpretation of what happened to her, she is the most vague character.
She mentions Steve stole from her. He immediately assumes its money, but what she means is that he stole her innocence and ability to live a normal life.
She dresses in those clothes as a coping mechanism. Steve assumes she was not affected as she was so young, but she coped by staying young forever.
Dainty is cynical. This attracted Steve to her, he likes women who are different, except Dainty was not a woman, she was just a child, a sassy child.
Dainty will be what hits Steve the hardest.
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