Lodestone

Lodestones are enchanted rocks which prevent the souls of the dead from rising up. The lodestone itself is symbolic of stasis, of being trapped in the same place. This contrasts ironically given the name of the town in which the novel is set –“Liberty”. A lodestone bearing doll is given to Ruby by Ma Tante, who then has her exchange dolls with Ephram. The lodestone is dangerous to the Dybou in the novel, for it can be used against him.

The Dybou steals and buries Ephram’s lodestone. Ironically, the Dybou’s burying of the lodestone –in essence, burying the past –means that he inadvertently is making sure that Ephram and Ruby will have a future. In other words, what has been holding Ruby and Ephram back is now itself being held back. Taken together with the rain that falls on Ephram and Ruby later in...