Inheritance

The mirror in Lost Bride Manor functions as a powerful symbol, embodying themes of reflection, connection, and The Interplay Between Past and Present. Far from being a simple household tool, the mirror serves as a touchstone for the intertwined legacies of the Poole family and acts as a conduit for the novel’s supernatural elements. Its presence is therefore central to the novel’s exploration of history, identity, and redemption.

Physically, the mirror exudes an ominous and foreboding energy. Cleo refers to it as a “nightmare” as she describes its ornate frame adorned with “predatory birds, animals, [and] reptiles” (59). Sonya’s own observations are even more vivid, and she notes that “[a]nimals snarl[] and fl[y] on the thick frame of the cheval glass” and contemplates the “[w]olves, fangs sharp; a hawk, wings spread, talons curled; a buck with antlers tipped like razors; a coiled cobra; a two-headed dragon, a bear rearing up on its back legs; a cougar on the spring" (58). This grotesque imagery reinforces the mirror’s role as a symbol of danger and hidden truths, and its intricate, almost violent design reflects the chaos and pain embedded in the Poole family’s history.

The mirror’s reflective properties transcend the practical uses of its physical form, as it also symbolizes introspection and self-discovery. It compels the characters to confront their individual fears and the weight of the Poole family’s haunted past. For the Pooles, the mirror acts as a repository of their history, reflecting key events that shaped their legacy. For Sonya, it likewise becomes a central object in her journey to understand her inheritance and her role in the family’s narrative. The mirror’s ability to reveal truths that go beyond mere physical appearance suggests that the past is not merely an artifact to observe but an active force shaping the present.

As a supernatural portal, the mirror serves as a literal and figurative bridge between the living and the dead. It reveals the malevolent presence of Hester Dobbs, the witch behind the Poole family curse, and it also facilitates the living characters’ interactions with the spirits trapped in the manor. Through the mirror, the living gain access to the spectral world, and this dynamic underscores the novel’s central tension between past and present, the seen and the unseen.

Throughout the novel, the mirror transcends its utilitarian function to become a richly layered symbol of connection, revelation, and transformation. It therefore encapsulates the novel’s thematic focus on confronting history, uncovering hidden truths, and forging new paths amid the shadows of the past.