The Weight of Ink

Fire is a significant motif in the novel and is used to mark moments of transition and significant change. The fire that kills Ester’s parents in Amsterdam propels her into a new life in London; almost a decade later, the Great Fire of 1666 is burning as she marries Alvaro and begins her new life in Richmond. Fire also emerges as a threatening possibility when Ester and Rivka are barricaded in the da Costa Mendes house, facing a hostile antisemitic crowd. Fire is a dangerous and destructive force, especially in the context of a plot with a strong focus on paper and documents—for the centuries that they lay dormant and hidden, the precious cache of Ester’s documents was vulnerable to a fire that could have destroyed them at any time. The Amsterdam fire was undoubtedly destructive, and cost the lives not just of Ester’s parents, but, indirectly, the life of her brother as well.

However, the repetition of the motif reveals that when one period of time comes to an end, a new chapter can begin. Typically, after fire, either new growth will occur (in the natural world) or buildings will be rebuilt (in more urban spaces); the latter occurred after the 1666 fire, with London quickly reemerging as an important global capital.