I need help understanding Lovecraft!

satinsoven123 · Post by **satinsoven123** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:38 am

I just read "The Festival" and I am having a difficult time understanding the story. The ending, along with the Nec. quote, leave me with many questions.

And as long as we're talking, two "Rats In The Walls" questions-

1. Was Delapore eating Norrys, or was it the rats?

2. How come no one but Delapore could hear the rats?

tsathoggua · Post by **tsathoggua** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:24 pm

There were no rats, it was Delapore doing the eating, i think...

satinsoven123 · Post by **satinsoven123** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:32 pm

You mean there were no rats throughout the entire story? Then why did the cats paw at the walls angrily?

tsathoggua · Post by **tsathoggua** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:08 pm

Maybe i'm wrong then, i can't remember it exactly, but it WAS delapore doing the eating

meenween · Post by **meenween** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:25 pm

Delapore did the eating---- ---- the curse of his family and the Rats in the Walls drove him insane----there were rats, they are what lead the party to find the accursed tomb underneath the estate---- Delapore's lineage had been cannibals and he became cursed/ psychotic after the discovery of the lost village under his home--- hope that helps

Rats in Walls and Festival are two of my favorite HP stories

meenween · Post by **meenween** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:28 pm

As far as the Festival goes I can't quite remeber the ending or the quote--- but the protagonist is basically seeing a hallucination of a festival in a town of spirits--- the town is cursed because the people practiced dark art rituals out of the Necronomicon---- when he arrives in the cave though I think the creatures he flies out on are real--- but he was there by himself

tsathoggua · Post by **tsathoggua** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:59 pm

Really isnt the state of confusion and not really knowing part of what makes the horror genre effective?