The Victorian House

The large Victorian house that serves as the VanLandingham’s summer home symbolizes the VanLandingham’s standing in the community. The family is wealthy and powerful. This is why the VanLandingham’s have Margaret’s parents meet them at their home to settle the issue with Margaret’s pregnancy.

The Veil

The veil represents the in-between state that Margaret is in for the first two-thirds of the novel. Margaret does not realize that she is a ghost. The veil is what Margaret needs to break through in order to interact with the living.

Pregnancy

Margaret’s pregnancy symbolizes the time that Margaret is unaware that she is a ghost. As Margaret’s memory begins to return and Margaret realizes what happened to her, it is as though Margaret is gestating into a fully-formed ghost.

Floorboards

The floorboards in Shady Bluff symbolize Margaret’s secrets...