Halloween is surely over, but there is no inappropriate time for a creepy story.
OK, maybe a wedding, or a funeral, but still. Creepy stories have a tradition behind them, being passed down through word of mouth, leading to legends and myths, folklore, and gossip. Books and movies, games and shows. Without these creepy tales, one could not express nor explore the dark side of humanity.
This month, we’re going to take a look at “Reviving Pater,” a short story by John Goulet. In the story, a family is busy reviving Pater, the grandfather. They make a pillow version of him, like a lifesize doll, and take him to a chapel to play Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” before attacking him with nails and teeth and dismembering him, scattering all the pillow parts in the back of the chapel. As it turns out, they do this every year, and they’re very particular about their Pater. They pick out exact pillows, and make sure to bring him to life in the car, on the way to the chapel.
If it sounds strange, that’s because it is. Here’s the symbolism behind it:
- They bring Pater to life every year, to play this one song on the piano, before dismembering him. Clearly this has significance. It hints that grandpa Pater used to play this song, during this particular time of year, and they bring him back to relive the memory. Hence, why they cry as he plays it.
- They dismember him, because at the end of the day, they know that what they’re doing isn’t natural. They know he’s a pillow, and shouldn’t be animate.
- The only missing piece in the beginning of the story is Pater’s kidney. Kidneys are foundation for all material and physiological function in our bodies. Clearly, Pater doesn’t need one to live, he’s a pillow, but ironically, they need the piece to bring the pillow version of him back to life. This is irony.
- Rather than bring Pater’s actual body back to life (zombie), they chose a pillow, opting for something safe and easily broken down, because they know what they’re doing isn’t meant for more than a night.
- A family of jack-o’-lanterns drives past them in another car at one point. This, along with Pater himself, point to the fact that this is a fictional, fantastic world in which these things are possible.
- Dolly, the one who mainly worked on Pater, and brings him to life, is ironically named Dolly.
- “Moonlight Sonata” was written for a woman Beethoven admired, but wasn’t in love with like his beloved Josephine. It was dedicated to his pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, but Josephine Brunsvik was the woman he wrote several serious love letters to. It’s almost as if this song was chosen on purpose: something lasting a short period of time, and pleasant for the time being, but not meant to linger.
Check out the story, if you haven’t already! Although short, it is quite intriguing.
