Moth/Butterfly Symbolism of Crimson Peak
Outside of the lighting in the film and the color of the ghosts the other huge symbolic factor, which is made more clear in the novel again is the butterflies and the moth. However, they do bring this into the film well as well, there are just extra factor sin the novel that make it more clear.
After first meeting the Sharpes, Edith has a discussion with Lucille regarding Butterflies and Moths.
Lucille informs Edith that the house and the area surrounding it can only sustain the black moths. The harshness of the house, the darkness, kills the butterflies. The butterflies are too delicate and innocent to survive there.
She also notes that the moths eat the butterflies– it is why she is collecting the cocoons.
This symbolizes Lucille’s plans for Edith in bringing her to Crimson Peak.
The differences is further emphasized by the clothing of the two women. Edith wears bright butterfly like colors or warm earthy colors. This emphasizes her warmth, innocence and light. Meanwhile Lucille wears dark moth like colors (or red…that symbolism should be obvious) which emphasizes her harshness, cold, and death.
In the novel there are mentions of Lucille collecting beautiful insects…Thomas notes her killing them and pinning them to the display boards. We also see her collection of hair from her victims in the same way
We see other hints of this throughout the set design of the house…note the butterfly on display.
Yet the whole house is taken over by this wallpaper that on closer inspection is clearly moth patterned.
“The mad head of the house was rotting, and night was dragging her wings across the moon, tracing filigree on the floors. In the attic, more black moths were dancing because it was cold, because it was dark. Because they were hungry. For the butterfly.” – novel
The novel notes that the moths are most prevalent in the attic…where Lucille and Thomas were kept as children. This is where the madness and darkness in Lucille first began to fester.
This is also where Edith learns the truth.
Then in the end the symbolism becomes so fantastic. The butterfly is the one to survive– the innocence, the light and love symbolized in the butterfly survived, killing the dark and ugly nature of the moth.
Again the final imagery of each character representing the butterfly and the moth. Edith is continued to be seen wearing white/light airy innocent colors.
While Lucille’s ghost takes on the color of the moths the infest the house (the house that infested her heart and mind).
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