Interpretation and Analysis of Lost Boy Lost Girl Essay

a. SettingLost Boy Lost misfire, by Peter Straub, is based primarily in the homet testify of the protagonist, Timothy Underhill. It is a mid-western city by the raise of Millhaven in Illinois. Some believe that the town is based loosely on Straubs hometown of Milwaukee. The chief oscilloscope of the novel is an abandoned family line on 3323 North Michigan Street, a custom built house with secret passageways, staircases, a torture chamber and chutes for corpses.The locale of a small town, along with the eery tally house is complete(a)ly appropriate for the baloney. To Tim Underhill, it appears surreal. This lends to the tale a sort of gothic and intimidating feel. Had the story been set in whatsoever other place, it would have lacked the forbidding atmosphere that Millhaven imparts. The author, Peter Straub does a laudably job of representing and defining the settings, so as to give the proofreaders an authentic sense of the place.b. Major charactersTwo of the major charact ers of the novel ar Timothy Underhill and lollipop Underhill.1. Tim Underhill Tim Underhill is the protagonist of the story and narrates a major portion of it. A writer living in New York, he seldom returns to his hometown of Millhaven and is not very close to his brother, Phillip. In position, Tim and Phillip share a sort of strained relationship. Tim appears a serious fellow, although there are instances wherein he chooses to take a sense of humor. He quips, Once you take someones word about an undetectable man, you are playing with his racquet on his court, and it is no use pretending otherwise (p. 142).Perhaps the closely prominent and apparent aspect of Tim Underhills character is his love for his nephew, Mark. He refuses to relinquish his quest for the male child and investigates the murders occurring in the town, resolving to get to the bottom of things. This is clearly induced by his affection for Mark, of course have with his pursuit for the truth. Like many other s mall-town folk, Tim is a man who would not easily forgo his ethics or principles. When faced with a decision, he will always take the one which is morally right, as for example, his decision to stay back in Millhaven upon his nephews disappearance and his perseverance in trying to dumbfound him.At the climax of the novel, we can fill that Tim Underhills character has changed a good deal. His relationship with his brother, his thoughts and his beliefs has been neutered considerably.2. Mark Underhill Mark Underhill is the son of Phillip and Nancy Underhill. Fifteen years of age, he is restless unfocussed afflicted with.. a budding arrogance (p. 5). His behavior, sense of dressing and language (judging especially from the emails he sends to Tim) are all exemplifying of him being an average teenage boy. He becomes obsessed with a house in their neighborhood and absolutely disappears one day. He has, in Tims opinion a good and tender heart. He is sensitive to others feelings and we can sometimes observe that he is slightly smarter than the other characters. The grade of Marks mothers funeral, through his eyes, portrays vividly his affection for her and his anguish at her death.Towards the end, however, we see a more mature Mark. One who has undergone a transformation of sorts. He emerges stronger and more prudent than he was before the whole ordeal.c. abuse Fiction FormulaLost Boy Lost Girl the Great Compromiser quite true to the horror fiction formula throughout. The small town of Millhaven, with its simple and innocent inhabitants forms the perfect setting for the novel. The townsfolk are orderly and peaceable. Their lives, however are disrupted by a fiend that seems to be dwelling in a house in their neighborhood. The monster is believed to be a pedophile and a serial killer who is kidnapping young boys. A spirit, one of a little girl, alike inhabits this said house. Straub has very astutely merged the human with the supernatural to give the whole sto ry an eerie and disturbing feel. The townsfolk, Tim and Phillip Underhill in particular, embark on finding this crazed kidnapper and killer. Although the monster is dealt with in the end, the lives and convictions of the people of the town are altered forever.That being said, there are portions of the story that are not only if associated with the horror fiction formula. The transformation of the spirit of the girl into a good spirit, the limning of dysfunctional families such as that of the Underhills and the transition of a boy into a man are some of the aspects that Straub deals with that do not essentially comply with a horror novels customary description.d. Levels of HorrorTerror Following the disappearance of Mark Underhill and other adolescent boys, the reader is made aware of the fact that a terror lurks in the darkness, but it can only be sensed, not seen. Straub has done a remarkable job of keeping the reader intrigued by keeping the identity of the monster under wraps. The aim of terror is, however, not sustained. The monster is revealed to the audience later on in the story.Horror Towards the second half(prenominal) of the book, the reader becomes conscious of the form of terror(s), that is, the little girls spirit and the serial killer. Once they are disclosed, the novel takes on the level of horror. The killer and the spirit are described in detail for the readers benefit.Revulsion Straub chooses to scare his readers psychologically rather than with the spilling of blood and guts. Nevertheless, the novel contains various illustrations of repulsive and steep events of graphic nature. For instance, the scene of Nancy Underhill lying dead and nude in the bathtub, with her wrists slit and a plastic protrude over her head is sure to make the reader wince. Furthermore, the character sketch of the killer and the description of Mark hearing footfalls of the ghost which was like hearing someone stepping down a passage within his own head convey a p owerful sense of fright and dread. Most incidents, nonetheless, are not of a gory disposition.