Not only would Ofelia refuse to leave the house, but she forbid Sveva to do so either. Without Leone to cling to, Ofelia tried to hold on to her daughter. Ofelia complained of heart problems, and she told her daughter, “If you leave me, I shall die.” Sveva obeyed her. She was afraid to do anything that might hurt her mother. She was also afraid of losing her mother’s love. For three years, Sveva did not step outside the house. Ofelia insisted that Sveva even share her bedroom although Sveva later moved her bed into the hallway. Ofelia was afraid of being left alone. She was afraid Sveva might want to get married or have a career and then move away. A fence was built around the yard, and visitors were turned away. Letters to Sveva from friends were kept from her. There was only Miss Juul, Ofelia’s long-time companion, and her mother for company.

Sveva spent her lonely days reading and housecleaning. Ofelia became obsessed with cleanliness. Every day, Sveva washed and ironed the sheets, and she scrubbed the floors. Ofelia even had the curtains, carpets, and lamp shades removed so that there would befewer places for dust and dirt to hide. In her spare time, Sveva was not allowed to write or paint. Reading became her link to the outside world, and crates of books were shipped from England. Eventually, when Sveva was close to a nervous breakdown, she was allowed out into the garden. Then, after 16 year of being confined to the property, she was allowed to go into town to do business such as banking. But Miss Juul always went with her, and Sveva had to telephone her mother every half hour. For 25 years, Sveva lived like Rapunzel, trapped in her own tower.