Themes
Help people that are suffering
At a point in the book, Harvey and Wendell find a way out of the house. They leave and say they will never go back their since they barely got out. After a few days away from the house, Harvey and Wendell meet up and realize they have to do something about the children and people trapped and the house. " 'I don't much like the idea,' Wendell confessed. 'Neither do I,' he said, thinking as he spoke that he'd have to leave a note for his mom and dad, so that they wouldn't think his return had been a dream. 'We have to go,' he said. 'We don't have any choice.' (156). When Harvey and Wendell get back to the house Wendell comes into a trace so Harvey has to leave him behind. Harvey goes downstairs in search of Mrs. Griffin. He finds her in a horrific state. "She was staring up at him with wild eyes, her hair pulled out in clawfuls, her face purple with bruises. A foul rag had been stuffed into her mouth." (178). She was stuck down there and after a little while she started crying. She thanked him for letting her cry. " 'Oh no, my sweet, don't be sorry. It's wonderful.' She smiled through her tears. 'You've broken his curse on me.' " (179). Harvey doesn't realize it at this point in the book yet, but by doing the right thing and trying to help all the children that suffered in Mr. Hood's House and going back to the house, he's changing people's lives and helping them overcome their personal horrors.
Taking things too far can hurt someone
On Halloween, Wendell plays a trick on Harvey and he does not like it and becomes very angered. Harvey is shaken up and is walking around when he meets Jive, Rictus's brother. Jive knows about the trick Wendell played on Harvey earlier. " 'You never did get Wendell back for that rick of his.' 'No, I didn't,' said Harvey. 'Why the heck not?' 'I could never think of a way.' 'Oh I'm sure we could cook something up between the two of us,' Jive replied mischievously." (86). Jive then goes on to tell Harvey to meet him up on the roof of the house. When Harvey gets up to the roof he meets Marr. Marr transforms Harvey into a vampire-like creature. Harvey is very excited and cannot wait to get back at Wendell. Harvey jumps off the roof and soars towards Wendell. Wendell is scared out of his mind and starts to sob. He screams on the top of his lungs and asks to not be killed and eaten. But Harvey couldn't get enough. "Harvey knew he'd already had his revenge: Wendell was frightened out of his wits. But it was too much fun to stop now." (97). "But most of all he liked the fear he was causing; like the look on Wendell's upturned face, and the sound of panic in his chest." (97). Harvey realizes he should stop but it is hard for him to quit. Also, he has Jive in the back of his mind whispering for him to take a bite out of Wendell. Harvey is compelled to do it and barely comes to his senses before he almost eats Wendell alive. Harvey screams at the top of his lungs that he will not do it and that shakes him out of his trace. He then realizes that he had taken it too far and almost killed Wendell.
Clive Barker, Picture of Mrs. Griffin being transformed , Illustration, n.d., Clivebarker.org, Clivebarker.org Web., 01 June 2014.
Clive Barker, Picture of Harvey as a vampire, Illustration, n.d., Clivebarker.org, Clivebarker.org Web., 01 June 2014.
Clive Barker, Picture of Harvey as a vampire, Illustration, n.d., Clivebarker.org, Clivebarker.org Web., 01 June 2014.