Belladonna Chapter 37 (Thirty-Six) Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Signa swallows dried belladonna berries and successfully sheds her corporeal form, becoming a shadow-being like Death. She explores the bedrooms of Thorn Grove, searching for clues. In the governess Marjorie’s room, she finds a hidden journal. The entries reveal Marjorie’s long-standing love for Elijah and her hatred of Lillian. Marjorie believes Lillian kept them apart and expresses no pity when Lillian dies. Elsewhere, Signa witnesses Marjorie in Lillian’s old room, crying over a family portrait that she tears up. Signa notices Marjorie’s fingertips are stained the color of belladonna—the same stain that appears on Signa’s own hands after using the berries. Realizing Marjorie is the poisoner, Signa barely escapes unseen. When she returns to her room, Death is waiting with terrible news about Blythe.

Key Events

Signa consumes ten dried belladonna berries and becomes invisible, cloaked in shadows.
She passes through walls and explores the house, eavesdropping on servants.
In Marjorie’s desk, Signa discovers a journal documenting Marjorie’s secret love for Elijah and her desire to be rid of Lillian.
Entries from 1852–1853 show Marjorie’s frustration with Lillian’s surveillance, her confession of love to Elijah, and her satisfaction at Lillian’s death.
While still invisible, Signa follows Marjorie into Lillian’s dusty sitting room and bedroom.
Marjorie tears a photograph of Percy, Elijah, and Lillian and throws the pieces out a window.
Signa sees that Marjorie’s fingertips are stained deep plum—the same stain as belladonna—confirming she is the poisoner.
Signa accidentally makes noise, but conceals herself again; Marjorie mistakes her for Lillian’s ghost.
Signa escapes to her room, where Death informs her that something has happened to Blythe.

Character Development

Signa: Demonstrates growing control over her abilities, using belladonna to become invisible and move through walls. She acts decisively and independently, following her instincts rather than waiting for Death’s guidance. The discovery hardens her resolve to uncover the truth, even at the cost of her own safety.
Marjorie: Revealed to be far more complex and sinister than previously assumed. Her journal shows a woman consumed by unrequited love and deep resentment. The belladonna stains on her fingers prove she is the one who poisoned Lillian—and likely others. Her grief over the torn photograph suggests conflicting emotions, but her coldness toward Lillian’s ghost shows no remorse.
Death: Appears only at the end, radiating anger and distress. His focus is entirely on Blythe’s worsening condition, and he interrupts Signa’s triumphant return with urgent news. His vulnerability is hinted at through his emotional reaction.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Invisibility and Secrets: Signa’s shadow-form allows her to uncover secrets that have been hidden in plain sight. The motif of seeing without being seen parallels the way characters like Marjorie have hidden their true intentions.
Belladonna as Both Tool and Poison: The same berries that grant Signa power are the instrument of Lillian’s murder. Marjorie’s stained fingers echo Signa’s own, blurring the line between protagonist and suspect.
Jealousy and Possession: Marjorie’s journal entries reveal a possessive love for Elijah, viewing Lillian as an obstacle to be removed. The torn photograph symbolizes her attempt to erase the Hawthorne family’s unity.
The Weight of the Past: Lillian’s presence lingers in dust-covered rooms and portraits, a reminder that the dead have not yet released their hold on Thorn Grove. Marjorie’s dialogue to the empty room suggests she is haunted—not by Lillian’s ghost, but by her own guilt.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 37 is the turning point of the mystery. For the first time, Signa obtains concrete evidence that Marjorie is the poisoner: the journal, the stained fingers, and the opportunity to poison Lillian. The chapter confirms that Lillian’s death was not an accident or supernatural, but murder. It also raises new questions about the timeline, Elijah’s knowledge, and Marjorie’s subsequent role in Blythe’s illness. The final line—Death’s announcement about Blythe—raises the stakes, forcing Signa to act immediately on what she has learned.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What evidence does Signa find that points to Marjorie as the poisoner?
Signa discovers Marjorie’s journal detailing her hatred of Lillian and desire for her death. She also sees that Marjorie’s fingertips are stained the same deep plum color as the belladonna berries. Combined with Marjorie’s access to the household and her presence in Lillian’s room, the evidence is damning.

2. Why does Marjorie tear up the family photograph, and what does this action reveal about her character?
Marjorie tears a photograph of Percy with Elijah and Lillian, then throws the pieces into the snow. This action reveals her desire to erase Lillian from the family history and perhaps even from Percy’s memory. It shows she is still emotionally invested in the Hawthornes and believes she should have been part of that family portrait.

3. How does Signa’s use of belladonna in this chapter parallel Lillian’s death?
Signa uses belladonna to achieve invisibility and power, willingly ingesting a poison that killed Lillian. Both women take the same substance, but Signa does so under Death’s guidance and in controlled doses. Marjorie’s stained fingers show she also handled the berries, likely administering a fatal amount to Lillian. The chapter creates a disturbing parallel: the same plant can grant agency or bring death depending on intent.