In the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1–4), the foolish virgins are presented as women who failed to prepare for the coming of Christ, the bridegroom, and were shut out of heaven. In Cameron’s vision, their loose, flowing hair signals moral corruption, while their faces convey sorrow and repentance. They are arranged within the recognisable setting of the studio, framed by its skylight and dark drapery.