The Moths

The moth is not a beautiful creature like a butterfly even though they are related. A moth is grey and dull, not colorful like a butterfly.

Edmund is extremely fascinated by them and returned to the red room by himself. As he takes the biggest one, the “Death’s Head Hawk Moth”, it disintegrated, collapsed into his hand. The image of the moth, could be linked to Kingshaw after he arrives at the Warings. The idea of being captured, under Hooper’s control. The moment that the moth collapses in his hands, Hooper felt a sense of power, the strength to control others.

Also, the death moths in glass cases could also resembles the power that Hooper wanted. The idea of capturing the moths, kill them and then put them in glass cases for display. From the point of view of his grandfather, the moths have a sense of achievement for the first Joseph Hooper, but it seems that only he cares. These dead, grey and lifeless moths now remind others of the first Joseph Hooper for the fact that he is almost dead, and his son, declined his legacy, only interested in the house himself.