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.