The Basement

The basement represents a place of deep and dark secrets. It also symbolizes the underworld and basic instincts. It is here that Serafina follows her basic instinct to kill rats. Also, it is here that she first encounters the Man in the Black Cloak. She and her father are also keeping a secret that involves the basement. They are living there in secret.

Corn

Serafina’s father tries to get her to eat her grits which are made of corn. Since her father is the one who is raising her, this makes sense as corn is a symbol of life and fertility.

The fact that she does not like to eat grits serves as a clue regarding her origins. While cats can eat corn, it causes stomach aches in some of them. This could be why she does not find eating grits agreeable.

The Upper Floors of Biltmore Estate