In Act 2, Edward seeks psychiatric help, stating, "I have ceased to believe in my own personality." Sir Henry comments that this is a "very common malady. Very prevalent indeed." The play delves into how three characters—Edward, Lavinia, and Celia—come to the realization that their identities do not meet societal standards. Notably, Edward first opens up about his marriage's reality when he is alone with a character the playwright names "Unidentified Guest." To this stranger, Edward admits his uncertainty about life without Lavinia. When the stranger offers to bring her back, Edward consents, even though he previously felt she was pushing him into a life of dishonesty. Once she returns, Edward quickly recognizes his error. He feels uneasy both with her and without her, leading him to decide that isolation in a sanatorium, free from any façade, is the best choice for him.

Lavinia's path to self-awareness, as Sir Henry explains, begins when she discovers that her lover, Peter, is not only in love with another woman but that the other woman is Celia, who is also involved with Edward. Losing two men to the same woman causes her to question her own attractiveness. She longs for love, and its absence makes her question whether it is a feasible goal. To deal with this revelation, Sir Henry advises her to return to her former life, suggesting she might at least find comfort with her husband, who has shown he is incapable of loving anyone else.

After her affair ends, Celia reaches two unsettling conclusions about herself: that she is alone and that she is a product of sin. Sir Henry does not attempt to change her beliefs but treats them as an awakening to the human condition. While he advises Edward and Lavinia to stay together to have companionship in their loneliness and avoid trouble, he shows more trust in Celia by offering her a choice. Instead of taking the safe, predictable route like Edward and Lavinia, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. She becomes less isolated when she learns to respect the disease-stricken natives of Kinkanja, ultimately combating her inherent sinful nature by sacrificing her life for them without expecting any reward.

At the start of the play, Edward and Lavinia view each other as burdens or obligations. Edward, a lawyer, takes pride in being the practical one in their relationship. However, he seeks out Harcourt-Reilly because, as he puts it, "I can no longer act for myself. Coming to see you—that's the last decision I was capable of making." He wishes to be admitted to a sanatorium to avoid the pressure of making life decisions. Lavinia also expects to be sent to a sanatorium when she encounters challenges. Instead, Harcourt-Reilly advises them to stay together and assume responsibility for one another. They complement each other socially; Lavinia observes that Edward is practical with tasks like handling income tax forms, while she sees herself as "practical in the things that really matter." Their brief separation arises from their quest for love and a desire to escape responsibilities. As long as they regard each other as obligations rather than partners, their relationship runs smoothly. The party they are planning at the play's end is not something they look forward to but feel obligated to host due to their social status. This shared sense of duty ultimately draws Edward and Lavinia closer.

Celia's journey begins when she is liberated from her relationship with Edward and is no longer tied to him. She realizes their relationship was "a dream" and yearns for something more meaningful. Her journey ends in...