Creature

The creature in the lake symbolizes the often mysterious essence of nature. At the beginning of the novel, scientists find the corpse of a previously undiscovered sea creature in the lake. This plot line is never relevant to the main narrative, which focuses on the history of the town in terms of human endeavors. However, this juxtaposition reminds the reader that nature necessarily shapes human lives.

Ghost

The ghost in Averell Cottage symbolizes the persistence of history. Early in the novel, Willie states that she has always been aware of a ghost in Averell Cottage. Towards the end of the novel, Willie even communes with the ghost and deduces that it is the ghost of Hetty, who died centuries ago. This ghost parallels the novel’s many aspects of historical fiction in order to emphasize how the past shapes the present.

Genealogy

In the novel, genealogy...