Witchcraft and Sympathetic Magic: Merricat's use of rituals and spells represents her desire for control and protection in a world where she feels powerless.
"If it was a very good day I would later make an offering of jewellery out of gratitude.” (p.5) - This quote demonstrates Merricat's ritualistic behavior, offering jewelry as a form of gratitude for days with minimal social interaction. This highlights her disconnect from societal norms and her unique way of finding solace.
“She was a wicked and disobedient child.” (p.34) - Constance’s description of Merricat suggests an early defiance of societal expectations and hints at her unconventional, possibly supernatural, nature.
“I decided that I would choose three powerful words, words of strong protection, and so long as these great words were never spoken aloud no change would come.” (p.44) - This illustrates Merricat's belief in the power of words and sympathetic magic. She uses words as omens and spells to control her environment.
“Thursday was my most powerful day.” (p.86) - Merricat ascribes significance to specific days, suggesting a personal system of magic and omen reading. The implication that the poisoning occurred on a Thursday links her power to that traumatic event.
Desire for Obscurity: The sisters seek to remain unseen by the townspeople, both literally (in darkness) and figuratively (obscured from the truth).
“I took a cautious step towards the darkness, pulling Constance a little so that she followed me.” (p.109) - The emphasis on darkness symbolizes the sisters' desire to remain hidden from the townspeople and the truth. It suggests their preference for obscurity over societal norms.
“I knew my way in the darkness or in the light.” (p.110) - This line emphasizes Merricat's familiarity with the forest, highlighting her power within her own domain and her ability to navigate both literal and metaphorical darkness.
Psychological Breakdown: The normalization of disturbing thoughts reveals a detachment from societal norms and a descent into a metaphorical