In the short story, Mrs Mallard is presented as a symbol of the restricted woman. Her reaction to her husband's supposed death is telling. She weeps, as is expected, but then she starts to realize the new possibilities in her life. For example, she looks forward to days that will be her own. This character reveals the theme of the story about the confinement of women and their longing for self - identity.
I'm not sure which specific 'Simonen' novel you're referring to. Different novels can use a mallard in various ways. It could be a symbol of freedom, nature, or it might play a role in the plot, like being a key part of a character's memory or experience.
I'm not sure. It's possible, but I haven't read all of Simonen's novels, so there could be one in a less popular or recent publication that I'm not familiar with.
The main events start with Mrs Mallard being informed of her husband's death. Then, she goes to her room alone. There, she experiences a change in her emotions from grief to a sense of liberation. Later, when she comes out of the room, she seems to be a new person, but suddenly, her husband appears alive. And finally, she dies of shock at seeing him alive.
Since I don't know the details of Simonen's novel, I can't say exactly. But it could be that the mallard is a catalyst for some events. For example, a character might follow the mallard and discover something important.
Max Schreiber is quite interesting. He's a wizard with his own motives and powers that often play into the adventures of Gotrek and Felix. His magical abilities add an extra layer of complexity to the story.