Content Warning: This section contains graphic depictions of cannibalism and violence.

The sphinx trophy belongs to Mrs. Harmon. Her husband won it for an essay on the nature of human consciousness. When Maren sees the trophy, she thinks, “She made me want to strive for something, to earn something beautiful I could hold on to for the rest of my life” (61). For Maren, the trophy symbolizes the type of achievements that only other people can have. It also represents Mrs. Harmon’s pride for—and devotion to—her husband. The trophy eventually saves Maren’s life when she uses it to hit Sully during their fight.

The sphinx also symbolizes the enigmatic riddle of Maren’s existence. In Greek mythology, the Sphinx is a female monster with the head of a lion. When she encounters a traveler, she invites them to answer a riddle. If they fail to answer it correctly, she eats them. However, they don’t have to approach the Sphinx, and they do not have to ask her for the riddle. In this way, the trophy represents an analogy for Maren and her life: She only consumes victims who approach her first, and specifically, those who violate her boundaries.