"Please, child, give it back. It's a gift from my husband."
"But it's beautiful. I want it. Give it to me."
An early example of the
Creepy Child trope, this short story by Truman Capote was first published in 1945. It follows the mental decline of a divorced woman named Miss Miller as the titular character, a
Creepy Child and
Oracular Urchin of some magnitude, slowly destroys her life by stealing her possessions, forcing her to buy her things, and eventually forcing her to let her move in together. The story has a very ambiguous ending, with the reader left unsure about what Miriam really is, and this had made it a favorite on the school discussion circuit.
This book provides examples of:
- Author Avatar: Capote said multiple times in interviews that Miriam is supposed to be him paying his parents (who abandoned him) back.
- Creepy Child: Miriam, though it is implied that she might not be quite human...
- Creepy Doll: Miriam has one of these by the story's end.
- Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory: A major reason for the story's popularity, as because of its mysterious ending, almost everyone has an idea of what Miriam is or represents.
- It Was Here, I Swear: After Miriam shows up to move into her apartment, Mrs. Miller has a minor breakdown and runs to her neighbors to beg them to get the girl to leave. Miriam, her box full of clothing, and her Creepy Doll are nowhere to be found when someone goes to look.
- Little Professor Dialogue: Specifically pointed out and played for creep-factor.
- Mind Screw: No one is quite sure what Miriam is and how she is related to Miss Miller, or what her job on earth is.
- Mrs. Robinson: Mrs. Miller is described as being strongly attracted to the titular character, despite the face that she is a little girl who scares her to death.
- Name's the Same / Averted One Steve Limit: Mrs. Miller's first name is also Miriam.
- Psychological Horror
- Snow Means Death: Snow in general is a major symbol in the story, especially in association with Miriam.
- Through the Eyes of Madness: Is Miriam real, or a figment of Mrs. Miller's imagination?
- White-Haired Pretty Girl: Miriam.
- The Stinger:
Mrs. Miller stiffened and opened her eyes to a dull, direct stare. "Hello," said Miriam.
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