Serpent & Dove
A Clever Little Witch: Lou
by Mahurin, ShelbyLou wakes up feeling physically and emotionally drained, haunted by nightmares and the memory of her near-death experience on her sixteenth birthday. As a witch destined to die for her people, she had accepted her fate—until a last-minute change spared her life. Now, she grapples with lingering trauma, evident in her swollen eyes and the scar at her throat. Her husband, Reid, and his friend Ansel check on her, but Lou brushes off their concern, masking her vulnerability with sarcasm and irritation.
Reid attempts to lift Lou’s spirits by inviting her to a show, *La Vie Éphémère*, which ironically mirrors her own existential struggles. Lou reflects on the tragic love story she read the night before, finding parallels in its themes of fleeting hope and inevitable death. Despite her reluctance, she agrees to go, craving an escape from her oppressive surroundings. Reid senses her distress and tries to connect, but Lou pushes him away, unwilling to reveal her inner turmoil. His persistence only frustrates her further, though she feels a pang of regret when he leaves.
Lou’s agitation escalates as she searches for a hidden weapon, convinced she needs protection from potential threats like Madame Labelle. Ansel watches nervously, confused by her erratic behavior. Her desperation leads her to scour the room, even crawling under the bed to inspect the floorboards, but her efforts prove futile. Ansel’s attempts to reason with her only provoke her anger, especially when he mistakenly calls her “Louise,” a name she vehemently rejects.
The chapter highlights Lou’s internal conflict—her struggle to reconcile her past as a sacrificial witch with her present life, where she resists vulnerability and connection. Her sharp wit and defiance mask deep-seated fear and loneliness, making her interactions with Reid and Ansel tense and emotionally charged. The unresolved tension between her hardened exterior and hidden fragility sets the stage for further exploration of her character and relationships.
FAQs
1. How does Lou’s physical appearance and emotional state at the chapter’s opening reflect her internal conflict?
Answer:
Lou’s reflection shows “pale cheeks, swollen eyes, and dry lips,” mirroring her emotional exhaustion and inner turmoil. This physical deterioration stems from her traumatic nightmares and unresolved past, particularly the memory of her near-sacrifice at sixteen. Her self-perception as “weak” for seeking comfort from her husband underscores her struggle between vulnerability and the hardened persona she believes she must maintain. The imagery of looking and feeling “like death” ties directly to her history as someone “born to die,” revealing how her past continues to haunt her present (pp. 209–210).2. Analyze the significance of the play La Vie Éphémère (“The Ephemeral Life”) in the context of Lou’s character arc.
Answer:
The play’s title and themes mirror Lou’s existential crisis. Just as the characters Emilie and Alexandre “lived and loved and died together—and for what?” Lou questions the purpose of her own survival after evading her fated sacrifice. Her bitter observation that their story ends in “hope” they’ll never experience parallels her inability to embrace hope in her own life. The invitation to the play becomes ironic, as Lou sees herself trapped in a similarly futile narrative within her “stone cage” of a marriage (pp. 210–211). This cultural reference deepens the chapter’s exploration of fate versus self-determination.3. What does Lou’s frantic search for a weapon reveal about her psychological state and relationship dynamics?
Answer:
Lou’s irrational hunt for a hidden weapon—scrutinizing the desk, bed frame, and floorboards—demonstrates her heightened paranoia and need for control after Madame Labelle’s visit. Her aggression toward Ansel and fixation on self-defense mechanisms contrast sharply with her earlier vulnerability, showcasing her whiplash between emotional extremes. This behavior also reflects her distrust of her environment and husband, despite their concern for her. The detail that she checks the same spot where her husband previously hid a knife (p. 213) suggests unresolved tension in their marriage, where intimacy and suspicion coexist.4. How does the chapter use contrasting imagery to develop the relationship between Lou and her husband?
Answer:
The chapter juxtaposes warm, inviting descriptions (her husband’s eyes like “the sun on the ocean”) with Lou’s defensive reactions (shaking off his touch) to highlight their emotional push-and-pull. While he attempts connection through gentle humor and invitations to the theater, Lou responds with sneers and isolation, creating a cycle of failed communication. Their physical proximity—her sleeping on his floor, his tentative shoulder touch—contrasts with emotional distance, emphasized when she feels “regret” watching him leave (p. 212). These contrasts illustrate the complexity of their bond, where care and resistance constantly intertwine.5. Evaluate how Lou’s traumatic past (revealed through her scar memory) influences her present behavior in this chapter.
Answer:
The flashback to Lou’s near-sacrifice at sixteen explains her self-loathing (“weak”) and emotional withdrawal. Having internalized that her “purpose since birth had been to die,” she struggles to reconcile her survival with feelings of guilt and purposelessness. This manifests in her rejection of comfort (interpreting kindness as pity), self-destructive isolation, and fixation on control (weapon search). The scar symbolizes both physical survival and psychological imprisonment; touching it while recalling the altar (p. 210) shows how trauma remains viscerally present. Her behavior suggests unresolved grief—not just for her expected death, but for the identity she lost by living.
Quotes
1. “My purpose since birth had been to die. Only my death could save my people.”
This quote reveals Lou’s tragic backstory and the weight of her predetermined fate as a witch. It introduces the central conflict of her identity—being raised to embrace sacrificial death, yet ultimately choosing survival.
2. “I’d actually slept on the floor to be close to him. Weak.”
This moment showcases Lou’s internal struggle between her hardened witch persona and growing vulnerability toward her husband. Her self-reproach highlights her resistance to emotional connection.
3. “It doesn’t end in death. It ends in hope.”
A pivotal reflection where Lou contemplates the themes of the play La Vie Éphémère. This contrasts with her own fatalistic worldview and subtly hints at her potential character growth toward embracing hope.
4. “Don’t pretend to know me.” / “I know if you aren’t swearing or singing about well-endowed barmaids, something is wrong.”
This tense exchange captures the push-pull dynamic between Lou and her husband. His affectionate observation contrasts sharply with her defensive walls, revealing their complicated relationship.
5. “I watched him leave with a twinge of what felt strangely like regret.”
A moment of emotional honesty where Lou acknowledges—if only to herself—her developing feelings. This subtle admission marks a turning point in her emotional journey within the chapter.