What does "her mother's life was a pale shadow that retreated before the sunlight of memory." mean? Death had diminished Catherine's mother to a tiny iveled figure without juices or vitality, or perhaps had done that to her, Catherine thought She tried to recall memories that site and her mother had shared, laughter that they had had together, moments when their hearts had touched; but it was Catherine's father who kept leaping into her mind, smiling and eager and gay." It was as though her mother's life was a pale shadow that retreated before the sunlight of memory. " Catherine stared at the waxen figure of her mother in her casket, dressed in a simple black dress with a white collar, and thought what a wasted life it had been. ======================= " It was as though her mother's life was a pale shadow that retreated before the sunlight of memory. " What does this sentence mean? Please..