Took: A Ghost Story

Erica’s doll, Little Erica, symbolizes isolation. When Erica is in possession of Little Erica, she only talks to the doll. What starts as attachment stemming from fear of a new home transforms into overreliance. When Daniel attempts to engage with Erica, “she had nothing to say. Every question produced an ‘I don’t know’ or a shrug of her shoulders” (53). However, “Her conversations with the doll grew longer and more frequent” (54). When Daniel confronts Erica about her behavior, she explains that “She listens to me. Nobody else does. She talks to me, too. Nobody else does that either” (55). Again, Erica’s dependence on the doll symbolizes the isolation she feels from her family and school.

When Erica is “took” and Selene is released, the latter becomes the new owner of Little Erica. Selene becomes attached to the doll because it reminds her of Old Auntie, and she wants nothing more than to return to Auntie. This desire causes her to isolate from those who want to help her. When Mr. and Mrs. O’Neill try to show Selene photos of her past, she has “her face turned away from the photo album” while “she continued to comb Little Erica’s hair” (181). Selene chooses to isolate because her life with Auntie is the only life she knows.

The use of Little Erica in the final showdown with Auntie is especially significant. Shortly after Daniel gives the enchanted doll to Auntie, Erica kills Bloody Bones. In losing both her servants, Auntie is left with no one. The transfer of the doll symbolizes the transfer of isolation to Auntie, who proceeds to die alone. Once Erica is back home and Auntie’s spell is broken, she has the opportunity to view a catalog for a new doll. However, Erica “shoved the catalog away so fast she knocked over the glass of orange juice Father had set in front of her” (253). Erica’s rejection of a new doll symbolizes her rejection of her previous isolation. She is home and surrounded by the love of her family, and she never wants to feel isolated again.