Home Before Dark

Baneberries represent the duplicitous nature of Baneberry Hall. When Ewan asks Junie Jane about them, she affirms that they’re poisonous, “both the red and the white kind” (20). Then she says that when Garson bought the land, “the hillside was covered in red berries. Townsfolk said it looked like the entire hill was awash in blood” (20). This disturbing description reinforces the fact that baneberries appear to be lovely, edible fruits, but they’re lethal if eaten in too great a quantity. The fact that baneberries are part of the house’s title and landscaping is a constant reminder that the home is a symbol of danger, death, and shattered families. The word “bane” connotes various degrees of distress, which is an odd choice for naming a family residence.

In addition, baneberries represent unanswered questions in the story. For instance, persistent rumors hold that William Garson used baneberries to poison his daughter, Indigo. Hibbs warns Ewan that “Indigo Garson gulped down those berries, and sometimes history has a way of repeating itself” (130). As long as baneberries are on the property, they’re conveniently available to use as a weapon. This is obvious to Marta Carver, who uses them to poison Maggie’s pie during the story’s climax.