Isolation and Loneliness: The protagonist, Alicia, lives in a secluded mansion with her wealthy husband. Due to her delicate health, she becomes confined to her bedroom and gradually grows disconnected from the outside world. This isolation intensifies her fears and exacerbates her mental state.
Psychological Horror: Quiroga masterfully builds psychological suspense as Alicia's condition deteriorates. Her fear of the feather pillow takes on an irrational and overwhelming magnitude, making the ordinary into something horrifying.
Paranoia: As Alicia's obsession with the feather pillow grows, she becomes increasingly paranoid. She perceives malevolent intent in innocent objects and actions, convinced that something sinister is out to harm her.
Loss of Reality: As her mental state spirals, Alicia's grip on reality loosens. Her perceptions become distorted, her thoughts fragmented, and the boundaries between imagination and actuality blur.
Symbolism: The feather pillow itself takes on symbolic significance. It embodies Alicia's deepest fears and insecurities, magnifying her anxieties while draining her of vitality.
Madness and Obsession: The story delves into the destructive power of obsession and how it can overwhelm rational thought. Alicia's relentless fixation on the feather pillow and her imagined torments lead to her ultimate mental and physical downfall.
Death and Mortality: Alicia's decline culminates in her sudden and mysterious death. Quiroga leaves the exact cause of her demise ambiguous, further emphasizing the unsettling nature of the tale.
Through these variations, Quiroga explores the intricate relationship between reality and perception, highlighting the fragility of the human mind and the terrifying possibilities that lie within our own psychological landscapes.