Heartless

The contrast between red and white is a motif that symbolizes Cath’s conflict between her true self and an identity imposed by others, and later Cath’s temptation toward corruption. At first, Cath’s conflict is between following her heart or obeying the expectations of others; post-climax, it’s between honoring the love and goodness in her heart or giving in to her rage in the wake of Jest’s death. Throughout the novel, white, symbolizing purity and innocence, represents Cath’s good, true self. Meanwhile, red, which symbolizes anger and passion, is imposed upon Cath by others, thereby representing an inauthentic self born of others’ expectations. Ultimately, red also demonstrates Cath’s own attraction to power; at the end of the novel, the use of red symbolizes Cath’s transformation into the Queen of Hearts.

In Chapter 2, when Cath prepares for the King’s ball, the Marchioness forces Cath to wear a red dress instead of the white one Cath had selected for herself. This establishes a pattern that continues throughout the narrative: Whenever Cath wears red, it is usually imposed upon her, whereas when given the choice, she chooses to wear white. This is evident when Cath wears Hatta’s hats: When invited to select a hat at Hatta’s tea party in Chapter 19, Cath chooses a white bonnet, but in Chapter 25, when