Miriam
It is unclear exactly what Miriam represents, but we might read this ghost-like character as being a creation of Mrs. Miller herself, who is suffering from schizophrenia. As such, Miriam represents the demise of Mrs. Miller, who is losing her mind after sustained isolation.
Death
Miriam might also be interpreted as a symbol of death itself. Only Mrs. Miller is able to see the young girl, and as such we might see her as being a sort of grim reaper. When Miriam says “Hello” at the end of the story, this might symbolize the fact that death has taken Mrs. Miller.
Miriam’s eyes
Similar to her hair, Miriam’s eyes hint that she is not all she seems to be. They are described as lacking in “any childlike quality whatsoever,” which hints at the danger she poses to Mrs. Miller and symbolizing the fact that she is not truly a child.
Miriam’s hair
Miriam’s hair is described as being entirely white, which is strange for a young girl. As such, we can see this as a symbol of her ominous nature, but also as a symbol of her purity.
Colours
Capote uses colours in “Miriam” to symbolise various ideas and to reflect the mental state of Mrs Miller. For example, he uses the colour purple to represent the dream-like quality of Miriam and also uses the colour white to represent purity and death.
