Bride

Children symbolize unification in the world of the novel. Ana, Misery as a child, and other children are used to emphasize unification between species in both positive and negative ways.

Ana is a positive symbol of the potential unity that can happen between the warring factions in the novel. The successful product of a Human and Were, she is living proof that the species can exist together. Because of this, she is fiercely protected, and just as adamantly sought after to be destroyed. Protecting or destroying her reflects the maintenance or destruction of alliances between the species.

As Collateral for the Vampyres in her childhood, Misery was a living symbol of the unity between species. She was no longer thought of as a living, breathing child, but as a relic. In this way, she was denied her own childhood. While she was technically a symbol of unity, Misery experienced isolation from both her community and true identity. Mick’s son is another child who illustrates the negativity of political conflict, as he is used to divide and destroy an otherwise unified pack.