Slade House

The moth is an image that recurs in several of the chapters, allowing it to function as a motif for The Corruptive Power of Wealth. It first appears at the end of Chapter 1, when Nathan finds himself trapped in the lacuna. The moth is drawn to the Grayers’ ritual candle, which will inevitably kill it if it gets too close to the flame. Once the ritual is engaged, time freezes in the lacuna, causing the moth to remain stuck just an inch away from the flame that attracts it. When Gordon Edmonds dies at the end of Chapter 2, he sees the moth again, this time burnt to a crisp on the floorboards.

The moth’s appearance and its traditional association with being lured toward death symbolize the allure that Slade House has for all the Grayers’ guests. Each one is drawn by the promise of some resolution in their lives, only for them to get too close and become trapped and destroyed in the process. The freezing of the moth is especially apt for the souls of the guests whose residual energies manifest in Slade House years later. In addition, during her final confrontation with Marinus, Norah compares Marinus to a moth to give herself confidence for their imminent battle.