The Song of the Lark

In The Song of the Lark, voice is an important symbol of strength, beauty, and inspiration. Thea’s singing voice makes her special and unique. Wunsch is the first to note the importance of her singing voice:

Wunsch had noticed before that when his pupil read anything in verse the character of her voice changed altogether; it was no longer the voice which spoke the speech of Moonstone. It was a soft, rich contralto, and she read quietly; the feeling was in the voice itself, not indicated by emphasis or change of pitch (38).

Thea has a way of finding expression through her singing voice that sets her apart from other musicians. Her singing voice is her first key to unlocking her true talent and potential to become the artist she was born to be. Thus, her singing voice is symbolic of potential and autonomy.

Thea also has a strong inner voice. She lives as much, if not more, in the interiority of her mind and soul as in the world around her. As a child, few people can touch the inner workings of her creative intellect. As a young woman and then an adult, Thea has few friends and keeps mostly to herself.