A Bottle Containing Hemlock

The bottle of hemlock symbolizes false incrimination. The bottle, containing a small amount of poisonous hemlock, was found in Caroline's bedroom and therefore seems to indicate that Caroline did in fact poison her husband. However, because Caroline was actually innocent, the bottle acts as a form of misdirection, both for the reader and for the characters.

Coniine

Coniine symbolizes death and murder. Coniine is a poisonous chemical, which Caroline stole in order to kill herself. However, Elsa then used the coniine to poison Amyas. In every iteration of its presence in the narrative, the coniine represents demise.

Angela’s Scar

Angela’s scar represents the fury and jealousy present in Caroline when Caroline was a child. It also represents Caroline’s guilt. In her jealousy of her younger sister, Caroline threw a paperweight at the girl, causing facial disfigurement and blindness in one...