The Silent Companions

Content Warning: The source material and this guide discuss violence toward women (including implications of rape and incest), child loss, miscarriage, violent death from murder and execution, the mistreatment of someone with a disability, animal abuse, substance use, mental illness, and racism against a Romani person.

Fire has always been a part of Elsie’s life, as her family owns a factory that produces matches and potent fire starters. Even after Elsie moves to The Bridge, she keeps matches in her pocket. Whether a token of her past or a safety measure for the future, the matches symbolize a spark that resides inside Elsie. She has endured tremendous pain in her life, yet she still has a will to survive and thrive. Fire also represents comfort and safety. With the constant damp chill and darkness that permeate The Bridge, a fire must always be kept going. The warmth of the hearth and the candle flame bring Elsie comfort in the cavernous, unwelcoming house.

The presence of fire symbolizes the characters’ desire to rid themselves of the dark forces that haunt them. As a child, Elsie used flames to eradicate the evil of her abusive father when she intentionally set a fire in the factory to create a diversion and then murdered him.