Mother and Daughter explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Motherhood and Family

  Lona's desperate cry of 'Mother!' and Lilith's violent rejection highlight the broken mother-daughter relationship.

• Love and Sacrifice

  Vane's love for Lona drives him to confront Lilith, and he carries her dead body with devotion.

• Power and Corruption

  Lilith's obsession with her own beauty and her murderous act demonstrate her corrupt use of power.

• Illusion and Reality

  Lilith's self-deception via the mirror and her refusal to see the shadows contrast with the brutal reality of Lona's death.

Characters to notice

• Mr. Vane

  Vane persuades Lona to confront Lilith, witnesses Lona's death, carries her body, and grieves.

• Lona

  Lona calls Lilith 'mother' and is killed by Lilith when she tries to embrace her.

• Lilith

  Lilith sits in the black hall, sees her own spotted side, and murders Lona when she approaches.

• The Little Ones

  The Little Ones accompany Vane and Lona to the palace; they capture Lilith after Lona's death.

• The Shadow

  The Shadow attends Lilith in the hall and glides out when she despairs.

Key passages

• “Mother and daughter must meet: it might be that Lona’s loveliness would take Lilith’s heart by storm!”

  Vane hopes that Lona's beauty will soften Lilith's heart when they meet.

  Vane's hopeful reasoning before the confrontation.

• “She sprang to her feet with a cry of despair: alas her whiteness! the spot covered half her side, and was black as the marble around her!”

  Lilith sees the black spot on her side in the mirror and cries out in despair.

  Lilith's horror at her own corruption.

• ““Mother! mother!” cried Lona again, as she leaped on the dais, and flung her arms around the princess. An instant more and I should have reached them!⁠—in that instant I saw Lona lifted high, and dashed on the marble floor.”

  Lona embraces Lilith, but Lilith lifts her and throws her to the ground, killing her.

  The pivotal moment of Lona's murder.