Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination.

Maevyth’s clothes are a motif that runs throughout the novel and connects with her changing sense of identity. Maevyth details specific elements of her clothes in Foxglove, noting that she has worn the same outfit her entire life. It consists of black undergarments that cover most of her body, a black dress, and a black necklace with a cross. The monochrome outfit represents her status as the “lorn,” meaning cursed, and dates back to her arrival in the parish, which coincided with an extended drought. The muted, dark tone of the outfit evokes mourning, as though Maevyth’s mere existence in the parish is a reason to grieve, but it also serves to set her apart from the rest of the town. Further, the outfit points to the specifically religious basis for Maevyth’s exclusion from society, as it covers her entire body and prevents her from expressing herself. Similarly, the Red Veils wear a monochromatic red uniform and have their tongues removed, cementing the link between uniformity, conformity, and suppression.

However, Maevyth’s clothing is also a representation of the possibilities she sees for herself, developing the theme of

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