Inheritance

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, death by suicide, and cursing.

“Die a bride, and know he’ll come to me. He will come to me, or by your blood on my tongue, bride after bride will join you in death. […] A marriage isn’t a marriage until it is consummated. Only a bride, forever lost. Be damned to you, Astrid Grandville.”

Hester Dobbs’s cruel declaration comes as she is murdering Astrid, and the venom in her tone reveals the depth of her spite and the deliberate malice of her actions, as her actions ensure that Astrid remains a bride rather than a wife or a mother. By tying the curse to this distinction, Hester weaponizes the institution of marriage itself, perpetuating a cycle of tragedy that haunts the Poole family for generations. Her curse transforms unresolved jealousy and grief into a legacy of loss, forcing the family to confront the lasting impact of past trauma.

“Who knew, she thought, that love could snuff out like a candle in a stiff breeze? And leave no trace. None at all.”

Sonya’s reflections reveal how easily her feelings for Brandon dissipate after his betrayal is exposed, and she is forced to reckon with the fragility of love that has been built upon societal expectations rather than genuine connection. While she later acknowledges that she never truly loved Brandon, her immediate loss of affection underscores the power of disillusionment. Sonya’s feelings contrast sharply with those of Hester, whose twisted love is transformed into centuries-long bitterness and jealousy. Together, these contrasting perspectives illustrate the idea that “love” can either dissolve under scrutiny or fester into something destructive when it is warped by obsession and resentment.