The Rose Bargain

“King Edward’s face was streaked with mud and blood when the woman first appeared at the tree line.”

This is the first line of the novel, and the image of blood can be contrasted with the blood that is later spilled during debutantes’ efforts in the marriage tournament. Edward’s bloodied face is the result of a fully human war, but the later injuries blood loss that the debutantes endure come at the hands of Mor and take place during ostensibly civilized activities that aren’t usually dangerous, like navigating a hedge maze. The recurrence of bloody imagery in both settings proves the enduring nature of Mor’s equally bloody-minded taste for human violence and suffering in any context.

“We found a squat ironwood tree, and in the divot of its roots we left our matching baby necklaces, one strung with a small pearl L charm and the other with a matching I.”

Smith’s use of jewelry as symbols is showcased in this passage as the necklaces come to represent Lydia and Ivy’s desire to travel to the Otherworld. This passage foreshadows the fact that Lydia is taken there, even though she cannot remember her experiences for most of the novel.

“Men never do understand. The slow death of being cast out of society is a fate few are strong enough to bear.”

This develops the theme of Societal Limitations on Victorian Women, implying that men don’t have to worry about their reputations; they can sleep with many women without suffering any consequences. By contrast, if women are seen alone with men, their lives and reputations can be ruined in an instant.