Sometimes they disappear altogether, even from me, though I know they are near. In addition to giving the fairies a magical and mysterious existence, MacDonald conveys a great deal of characterization through this simple connection between fairies and flowers. The reader can imagine immediately that Snowdrop and Primrose are beautiful creatures, the former with a fair complexion and white ornaments and the latter perky and bright. The image of a flower can easily be transferred to a person-like creature and this connection sparks instant depth of character without any lengthy description. There exists a connection between the beech tree and a female character in Phantastes .
Theambiguous creature seems undoubtedly friendly, protective, and comforting.
MacDonald does not need to describe the female voice in much detail, since every reader has heard the wind amidst leaves and can easily imagine the soft, whispering, soothing tones that blowing leaves would create if they were part of a human voice. The technique of linking this women-form to a tree does not only serve to enhance the human aspect of her character, but also drives the reader to feel compassion for the tree when it does not resemble the shape of a beautiful woman.