The Rats in the Walls Flashcards
Lec. 7, 8, & 9
Who was the author?
H. P. Lovecraft. 20th century, 1890-1937. He did not value science, religion, or romanticism. was rather pessimistic. talked a lot about persuing forbidden knowledge and facing the consequences (ie. having mind destroyed). Didnt believe in gods and thought they were monstrous.
Who are the characters and their NB?
Main Protag is Delapore who thens adopts his old last name De La Poer. this plays with his identity and who he is choosing to become. His son Alfred Delapore who dies after becoming an invalid in the war. Walter De La Poer, who in the 1600s killed his whole family and fled fro the priory to US. Edward Norrys; friend of alfreds from the war who owns the de la poer land. The learned men; Sir William Brinton, Dr. Task, Thornton. His black cat.
What are the mysteries presented to the reader?
Whats in the letter? Why did Walter kill his family and flee? Why was the priory hated and left abandoned? Why did the priory get blow up after it was just rebuilt (he mentions that at the very beginning of the story and obv we find out by the end)
Quick plot overview.
he moves to anchester to rebuild priory, villagers do not want him to rebuild it and wont help. its finished after 2 years and he moves in with servants and cats. upon first day he immediately starts hearing these rats in the walls that only him and the cats hear. he has weird dreams as well that end up being prophetic. he thinks theyre leading him into the crypt so he brings norrys with him and finds that there is a draft under a blood stained alter with ancient writing on it. he gets some learned men to help him discover what lies beneath it. they open it and find old passage way, goes to twilit grotto with many bones of different evolution stages of humans, along with a village that has ancient roman and saxon buildings as well as some tumuli. discover that they were keeping de evolved humans in pens and cannibalizing them. he keeps going into the midnight cavern and goes crazy in there, his language slowly regressing and he ends up cannabilizing norrys. story ends with him in insane asylum where he has been recalling this story.
What have we learned about this story?
- delapore has a tainted history (dangerous past) of cannabilism, slavery, demonic rituals. but it also tells us that before the delapores got the priory in the 1200s that this was going on for thousands of years before them so they arent the only evil ones. 2. religion and science did not help them with explaining any of the events, and mans knowledge was useless against these ancient forces. 3. the human identity is not stable (delapore has total personality switch after learning about his past) 4. civilization is a veneer (only a thin layer of civilization but underneath is barbaricism. 5. dont pursue forbidden knowledge (humanity cant handkle it)
What is delapores transformation?
connected - disconnected, moral - depraved, part of establishment - other (kicked out), sanity - insanity, identity - no identity, evolved - de-evolved.
What are the warnings that De la Poer ignores?
the letter that was passed down for generations. towns ppls warnings not to rebuild and the fact that he had to outside hire. weird prophetic dreams he had, especially since we find out he saw himself as the swineherd. how him and the cats were the only ones who could hear the rats. when they went to the altar he could read all the evil incantations and such on it. persisting down after seeing bones on passage etc. (seeking forbidden knowledge). his transgression was going back in time.
What do the cats represent (their stereotypes)?
curiosity (leading him down to alter and grotto), bad luck to cross a black cat. evil cats and how we dont know what theyre thinking. Supernatural familiars of witches, can see things we cant see. bestiality, dont understand actions. black cat is ambiguous, so is it good or evil.
Is the cat evil or good?
events he participates in; leads delapore down to the altar, leads him into the midnight cavern, wakes him up from his dreams, claws at delapores throat after he cannibalizes someone. so dont really know, he seems to be leading his master down there but is it so he can discover his past, or to persuade him to become like the other delapores.
What does the priory representation?
it is very ancient, and is a composite of many other cultures so the first ppls then the romans, then saxons, and then the delapores. this means that it is built reflecting all of these different architectural styles so its liminal because its not one thing or another. its also 3 miles form anchester which makes it too remote form civilization. its built on the precipice of the cliff which suggests instability.
What does the grotto represent?
it’s the hidden underground that conceals the truth and forbidden knowledge that should not be discovered. representation of all of humanity subconscious with the kind of evil hidden truths. referred to as hell. a dark mirroring of anchester in the grotto.
Are the rats real? does anyone else hear them?
they’re delapores madness, so they show how mad he is throughout the story. servants notice the cats acting weird but dont hear any rats. when delapore was gone the cats were fine. so is it delapores madness that’s driving these cats to act this way? are the cats trying to lead him on by making him think that theyre hearing the rats. maybe theyre sensing his madness and its disturbing them. so theyre obv not real, but i think his mind is haunting him.
Whats the deal withe the letter and the learned men?
letter represents the lost connection between his past and family. the communication was lost of the warning in the letter and led to more curiosity so communication is fragile. the learned men rep how science and religion and knowledge were not helpful in this situation and not strong enough to explain the past.
Whats the significance in the tunnel being made from below?
to me thats a symbolism with hell and going up to the world of man from hell. shows how the past is still strong and this place has lasted for thousands of years. the worn down passageway attests to the coming and going of all these diff ppls. also fated to evil bc of this mysterious creation of the priory from these demonic roots.
