The Bitemark Scar Symbol Analysis

The scar that Camille leaves on Laurent’s neck symbolizes how hard it is to move on after committing a deeply immoral act. Laurent doesn’t feel guilty for murdering Camille, but he does find it impossible to forget about the incident and live in peace. The scar he receives when Camille bites a chunk out of his neck while wrestling in the rowboat is a reminder of what he’s done, and though he ignores it at first, the wound is a constant source of pain—both physical and emotional. Whenever he gets dressed, for instance, his collar brushes the scar and sends a jolt of discomfort through his body, causing him to think about Camille’s drowned corpse. Even Thérèse recognizes the symbolic aspect of the scar, seeing it as the “gaping wound in their relationship,” or the thing that makes it so hard for them to lead a happy life as newlyweds. When she tries to “cauterize” it—or seal it shut—by kissing it, though, both she and Laurent feel intense pain. Of course, what Thérèse experiences is clearly psychological pain, but that makes it no less real than Laurent’s discomfort, which is both psychological and physical. The only time the scar doesn’t cause them pain is when they finally kill themselves, as Thérèse comes to a rest—in death—with her mouth positioned over the scar, ultimately representing the fact that they’re only able to escape the memory of their crime by embracing death themselves.