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Episode 379 – Out of the Deep (Patreon)

Published:
2017-11-09 10:53:00
Edited:
2025-05-18 19:41:55
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

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Content

Airdate: 11/9/2017

We’re back to talk childhood trauma in Walter de la Mare’s Out of the Deep! (We read this story in Out of the Deep and Other Supernatural Tales – in this episode we quote from the introduction).

Our readings are once again executed with precision by the one and only Greig Johnson!

Special thanks to Wesley Slover for music from his album Impressions of the Miskatonic!

Next up: A Recluse

Comments

Moonflight Dancer

Given that De Mare was a father of four, the "sleep like an infant" may be wishful thinking on his part as well. To me this story is as much about dementia as it is about childhood trauma. Jimmie's mind is so addled that he can no longer tell reality from fantasy. His memories are jumbled and what he can remember of his life is miserable. He is unable to form a bond with his one human connection, Mrs. Thripps, because his mind is no longer his own. There is also the horror of your life being ruled by microscopic (invisible) entities. Jimmie is losing his health because of the tuberculosis and his mind because of the dying of cells in his brain. Tuberculosis, also known as "the white death", is then realized in the form of the immense white pig monster, who hungers only to devour human life. Despite all this, Jimmie fights with himself not to pull the bell. He knows he is going to die horribly; he knows his life has become a sham of what it once was. Still, he clings to existence for as long as he can. It reminds me of the Regina Spektor song "One More Time With Feeling", about an old man dying of cancer, still trying to stay alive. Some people (like Terry Pratchett) would rather die than feel their mind drifting away from them. But some people struggle on, despite the horrific absurdity of mortal existence, despite personal trauma and physical ailments. The bit with the flowers does confuse me. While primroses almost certainly represent youth and innocence, I'm uncertain as to the meaning behind the violets. I assume that they represent some romantic ideals, but violets have so much religious and literary symbolism behind them, it is hard to tell. I don't blame Chris for not liking this story though. Surrealist works are highly dependent upon the audience to impose their own psychological baggage onto them, to render any meaning from them. I would rather you both be honest about your feelings toward pieces of fiction than pretend to enjoy something because it's established in the literary canon.