Albinism

Albinism, though never named directly in the novel, functions as a symbol of both hypervisibility and exclusion. Mice's appearance sets her apart in every social context: she is stared at, mocked, and pursued simply for looking different. Throughout this constant attention, she remains misunderstood and misread, seen as a curiosity rather than a person. Her whiteness becomes a metaphor for estrangement: she is visible but not seen, present but not understood. It also marks her as someone who does not belong in either of the social systems around her: cared for but controlled by Jody, and rejected by the wider community.

Hiding

Hiding in the novel symbolizes resistance, vulnerability, and a yearning for invisibility in a world that scrutinizes and misunderstands difference. Both Mice and Girtle physically conceal themselves suggesting their attempts to escape the oppressive gaze of others. For Mice, hiding is a way to...