Miranda represents the resilience of the women in the family, but the absence of strong male figures in the last few generations has unsettled the family's harmony. It is up to George to start reestablishing that balance. Yet, he is confined by his rational way of thinking and dismisses the islanders' claims about Ruby's spell. He struggles to comprehend Miranda's involvement in summoning the lightning storm as an act of vengeance against Ruby; rather, George usually ponders the statistical likelihood of lightning hitting the same spot twice.