68 pages • 2 hours read
Amanda SkenandoreThe Second Life of Mirielle West
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Hollywood Tabloids
In the novel, Hollywood tabloids symbolize the society and superficial values that Mirielle left behind. The first Hollywood gossip magazine Mirielle comes across is in her first days at house 18. She is annoyed that it is out of date (a reminder how separate and cut off Carville is from the outside world) but decides reading it will at least fill the empty hours. Mirielle’s association with many of the people who are the subject of the articles’ gossip reinforces the prominent position Mirielle held before her arrival at Carville. Her status, however, is not one that she can reveal to her fellow residents, for fear that Charlie’s career will suffer due to the stigma of her condition. At this point in the novel, she still longs for her social life, and the magazine inspires envy and indignation.
The magazines will come to serve as a painful reminder of Mirielle’s condition because they reveal society’s callous attitude toward people with Hansen’s disease. When she discovers the article that states she is being housed in a mental health facility, Mirielle is not only personally hurt, but panicked by the potential damage such a rumor could cause to Charlie’s career. Similarly, that Charlie himself is responsible for inventing the lie that Mirielle has mental illness means that the stigma of mental illness is not as harmful as the stigma of leprosy. That Charlie is willing to experience the ill-effects of the lesser stigma demonstrates just how strong the public’s fear of Hansen’s disease is.
Finally, the magazines are instrumental in establishing the friendship between Mirielle and Jean. The reading from the magazines causes Jean to slowly trust Mirielle. Mirielle recognizes Jean’s interest in reading, thus pointing her to more appropriate books which she will not only enjoy, but that will aid in Jean’s academic development. Though Jean has refused to attend school regularly, under Mirielle’s guidance, she becomes dedicated to her studies, revealing an aptitude for learning and for writing. That Jean publishes her own magazine as an adult is a testament to the way in which the gossip magazines ironically bring about some good after all.
Mirielle’s Family Photograph
Upon her arrival at Carville, Mirielle is surprised to find a framed family photo in her luggage. The photo, taken beachside, includes Felix and is Mirielle’s favorite photograph of him: It is the last time her whole family was together. Initially, Mirielle considers it unnecessary—albeit thoughtful—of Charlie to have included the photo, as she is certain she will not be staying at Carville long.
This proves to be not the case, however, and as time goes on, Mirielle is grateful that the photo is there at her Carville bedside. It is not only a reminder of home but a reminder of her motivation to take what steps she can to recover from the disease. In this way, the photo symbolizes the goal that Mirielle has set for herself. During difficult times, Mirielle turns to the photo to gather her resolve, sometimes sleeping at night while clutching the photograph in her arms. It takes on a greater significance for Mirielle than it likely would have had she never been infected with the disease.
Importantly, when Mirielle absconds for the second time (initially planning to return home to care for Helen) the photograph is one of the few items she takes with her. Unfortunately, she loses it when she is forced to drop her valise, as she and Jean rush to board the train as it departs from the platform. Symbolically, Mirielle’s willingness to let go of the photograph in exchange for helping Jean indicates her readiness to let go of the guilt and the past that have burdened her. In this way, Mirielle can begin anew when she returns to Carville with Jean. Though she will never stop loving her son, letting go of the photo means she has taken a first step toward healing.
Saint Christopher Medallion
The medallion that Sister Verena gives to Mirielle is significant in many respects. Saint Christopher is the Catholic Patron Saint of Travelers. Various legends about him exist, but in the most widely known, Saint Christopher carries a child across a river. Upon arriving at the other side, the child revealed himself as Christ (hence the name “Christopher” is said to mean “Christ-bearer”). It is common for Catholics to have a Saint Christopher medal and ask him to grant them protection while traveling. In gifting her medallion to Mirielle, Sister Verena expresses her desire for Mirielle to be safe as she travels to California to reach her daughter. Symbolically, this is a sign that Sister Verena has come to trust and admire Mirielle. Though Sister Verena does not think that Mirielle is making the right decision, she respects her enough to grant her agency to make her own choices (and mistakes).
Mirielle recognizes the significance of Sister Verena’s granting her permission; she values the medallion and sees it as a good luck charm as she travels to locate Jean. Mirielle turns to the medallion to find reassurance when she grows frustrated during her search, even though she is not Catholic.
Whether the medallion plays any true role in Mirielle locating Jean is open to interpretation; one could interpret her change of heart as Saint Christopher and Sister Verena leading her in the right direction, i.e., back to Jean and Carville. In any case, it reminds Mirielle that people at Carville care about her and helps her persevere until she finds Jean.
