Barker has an interesting twist on a demon. We tend to view demons as supernatural beings possessing supernatural powers which boggle the mind, but with Barker, the mind behind The Hellbound Heart, does something rather interesting: he creates a modern parable.
The Yattering in a low class demon, capable of creating small time poltergiest activity and act only within a set system of rules and is overseen by Beezelbub. In a way, this tales is a retelling of the trails of Job in the Bible. Satan could cause every malady and misfortune to Job, but could do nothing to physically harm him enough to cause Job to die. The Yattering is charged with causing with bringing Jack's soul to Hell, but cannot kill Jack, though can splatter a pussy (cat) all over the household. The Yattering is cause for all sorts of terrible events in the home all in attempt to cause Jack to go insane.
However, this is were the parallels to the trials of Job end. Hell wants Jack's soul, but Jack won't give it willingly. In a twist of character development, Jack is almost nonchalant, even apathetic to an extreme degree while the Yattering seeks his destruction. "Che sera, sera" is Jack's answer to just about everything the Yattering does, which translates to "what will be, will be". Clearly the man doesn't aspire to much. Maybe.
Jack's near apathetic and seemingly nihilistic character doesn't give him any development--maybe. The plot is turned over on its head and similar to a parable there are multiple layers to this yarn. Reading this tale at a surface level will only serve to confuse a reader and condemn them to everlasting torment.
Rating: 5/5
You pretty much gave us a summation of the story, however it's your last paragraph that I'll comment on. You state that Jack's apathetic character doesn't appear to give him any development. A couple days ago I might have agreed, however after readying "Connecting the DOTS," I might have to disagree.
ReplyDeleteI think we get a good idea of JAck's character, maybe not from his words, but from his actions, and the actions of the people around him. Jack shows his colors by the way he sacrifices his children, and also his wife. His wife shows her feelings toward Jack in the way she turns away from him for another man. I think all those things together show character development in a way new writers might not be accustomed to.