The Lake of Lost Girls

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and graphic violence.

Doll’s Eye Lake functions as a multifaceted symbol that evolves throughout the narrative, reflecting the psychological transformation of characters and the gradual unveiling of truth. Initially, the lake represents an innocent father-daughter connection, as Jess recalls: “Dad would bring me to the lake when I was little. We’d take our small orange paddle boat out to the center, fishing gear propped between us” (106). These memories establish the lake as a place of childhood nostalgia and familial bonding.

However, the lake’s symbolic meaning darkens as the narrative progresses. Its very name suggests something unsettling: “Most people had no idea the pretty plant [doll’s eye] was, in fact, incredibly poisonous” (106). This duality mirrors the deceptive nature of relationships, particularly between Jess and Ben, foreshadowing the toxic relationship beneath their seemingly loving bond. The link to dolls, stereotypically a girl’s toy, also hints at the dark side of growing up female in a world of predatory men, as well as the associated rage that may simmer beneath a veneer of femininity. The lake accumulates further symbolic weight through local folklore: “In Mt.