The Power

The power symbolizes the idea that social structures are based on violence and cruelty. After women begin to develop the power of the skein, the patriarchal structures of society begin to break down as women use their newfound might to take control of law and society.

The Voice

The vice symbolizes hunger for power and control. Throughout Allie’s life, she obeys the commands of a mysterious voice inside her head. By the end of the novel, it becomes clear that the voice is solely concerned with power and control, much like most of the novel’s characters.

Moldova

Moldova’s symbolizes social and political upheaval. The specific events of Moldova dramatize how shifts of power can result in dramatic shifts of social and political structures. Women take over the government, and predatory social practices of rape and violence become inverted along the gender lines...