Phantasma

The locket that has passed from generation to generation in the Grimm family is a symbol of the family’s connection to Phantasma. The locket is an integral object within the narrative. When Ophelia first dons the locket, something alarming happens: “A moment later, the locket pulsed again, syncopating to the thrum within her own chest. A heartbeat” (6). The locket, once on Ophelia’s neck, manages to magically sync up with her pulse, with the very essence of her body’s life. The locket’s connection to Ophelia’s heartbeat continues to be significant, especially as Ophelia and Blackwell’s connection deepens. When Blackwell stays with Ophelia until she falls asleep, Ophelia notices that the locket is more active in Blackwell’s presence: “She took a deep breath and sank further into the mattress, counting the heartbeats pulsing from her locket—which had not let up since their kiss” (183). Both her heart and her locket beat strongly for Blackwell, illustrating the intensity of her connection to both Blackwell and Phantasma.

The locket also plays a role in guiding Ophelia directly toward Phantasma. As Ophelia thinks about the locket’s history in her family, she notes, “The golden bauble had been in her family for generations, enchanted with a powerful magic that bound it to its wearer. Her mother had always claimed it guided her through her toughest times and that one day it would guide Ophelia” (30). The use of the term “guide” illustrates that the necklace plays a role in pushing the Grimm women toward the destiny the King of Devils orchestrated for them 500 years prior. The locket likely pushed Tessie, Ophelia’s mother, toward Phantasma, just as it guides Ophelia toward Phantasma and helps her to succeed, as she often touches the locket to determine which course of action to take in the challenges.