Animals

[Marsha]

I never figured out the part about the animals not being able to be in the "house." Does anyone know the answer? I've read somewhere about Noah's ark references, but not sure if that has anything to do with the house.

[kimlan]

A strong belief that I've heard from another reader it that the house is in reference, afterlife. the pets aren't able to enter the hallway mean animals don't have an afterlife. this is someone's else theory so i can't explain fully

[drone]

:::::::::::medium - large spoiler::::::::::::
It MAinly depenDs oN what thE houSe repreSents. I'm sure that Mark deLiberately put in at least three tOtally different interpretations of house of leaVes, all of which would hold up to intErrogation. ThaT said, He could bE rAndomly Burying thingS in the text that seem symbolic althoUgh it's ultimately ratheR devoiD of meaning.
::::::::: possible spoiler ends::::::::::::::

Although those are just my interpretations, of course, none of which animals could have any concept of.

[ July 05, 2001: Message edited by: drone ]

[jennifer may]

I always assumed it was part of that whole animals as innocence kinda thing.

Wiccans say animals do not disturb a magic circle by walking through it, nor do very young children.

Their innocence is a kind of magic itself.

They are not aware of any dichotomy between "magic" and "non-magic".

[PaulHewson]

***SPOILER WARNING***
I'm going to add my theory to thisy here discussion:

I think the House is a physical manifestation of fear. It plays to the minds of each individual who enters it and turns their fears against them. For example, Navidson's thought his biggest fear would be confronted with something he could not photograph or explore but at the end (after 5 days in the House alone) he realizes his deepest fear is losing Karen.

For Holloway, his deepest fear was being proven that his abilities were inadequate. Being a survivalist, he relied heavily on his personal experience to save his life. Obviously, if this experience failed him he would die. Needless to say, it did and he did.

For Karen, her fears are claustrophobia and the loss of Will...which almost happened. When she confronted her fears, she was able to beat the House. Metaphysics, super-intellegent dolphinsaside, and Mr. Ed not withstanding, animals do not have intellects and therefor do not have fears as we know them.

When Hillary and Mallory tried to enter the hallways, the House couldn't read their fears and rejected them. I hope this made sense...

-P

[shadows]

I agree with the fears thing. It even fits with the quote at the bigginging of that chapter where Ernest Becker says all that stuff about how animals do not fear. GOOD POINT!