Gage's Words on Jud's Wife Norma - Spoilers

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Dec 17, 2015
11
31
35
I am wondering what others' takes on this could be. When Gage is talking to Jud at the end of the book...

We know that Jud said resurrected people are evil yet speak the truth. When Gage comes back and attacks Jud, Gage says that his wife Norma is a whore/ slept with all of his friends in their bedroom. We know this is an evil being, but does this mean she actually slept with Jud's friends?

Just wondering what everyone else thinks. Thanks for your thoughts in advance.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I am wondering what others' takes on this could be. When Gage is talking to Jud at the end of the book...

We know that Jud said resurrected people are evil yet speak the truth. When Gage comes back and attacks Jud, Gage says that his wife Norma is a whore/ slept with all of his friends in their bedroom. We know this is an evil being, but does this mean she actually slept with Jud's friends?

Just wondering what everyone else thinks. Thanks for your thoughts in advance.
...The Father of Lies spoke through him, a demons mission is to twist and defile all that is wholesome and good...
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
Yeah, I agree with GNTLGNT and not_nadine. Satan and demons are ancient spiritual beings and know nearly everything about a person, and in this case Jud Crandall. I think when Jud told Louis
that the resurrected people spoke the truth, that was accurate (because the demons that inhabit them are highly intelligent and knowledgeable)but they don't speak the whole truth. I believe the demons knew that Norma being unfaithful was one of Jud's deepest fears (perhaps because Jud himself was believed to have cheated) and therefore it made it easier for him to take the bait. Just enough to cause doubt in his mind. Ultimately, the purpose of the unclean spirit that animated Gage was to torment Jud and "mess with" his mind before his death.
I think there were limitations to their knowledge and influence over Louis and Jud. They relied on their human weakness and reasoning which was their downfall. Very good question. I hope I didn't over complicate what had been expertly answered before me, but this is my favorite King novel. :)
 

Alan_Sefton

Member
Dec 6, 2017
13
43
42
Then again, it does say that Jud realised he'd been fooled - and the only consolation was that it was for the last time. Timmy Baterman told the truth, but he didn't set out to kill anyone, whereas Gage's wish to kill gave him a motive to lie - it goaded Jud into a reaction, which Gage took advantage of. Also, Gage would have had knowledge of Jud's encounter with Timmy Baterman, seeing as those who return have that all-knowingness ...
 

Gerald

Well-Known Member
Sep 8, 2011
2,201
7,168
The Netherlands
I was wondering: could this be the reason they didn't include Norma in the film? To have a child that young talk about sex (and even in a crude way) would be too much/would give trouble with the rating.

They could have still included her and just not have Gage say that, but maybe they felt there would be too little pay-off for her character then.
 

SoonerJay

Member
Jun 19, 2018
5
25
41
I am wondering what others' takes on this could be. When Gage is talking to Jud at the end of the book...

We know that Jud said resurrected people are evil yet speak the truth. When Gage comes back and attacks Jud, Gage says that his wife Norma is a whore/ slept with all of his friends in their bedroom. We know this is an evil being, but does this mean she actually slept with Jud's friends?

Just wondering what everyone else thinks. Thanks for your thoughts in advance.

Gage/Wendigo is telling the truth. Jud had already had suspicions about Norma.

There’s a part in the book where Jud asks Louis to do a medical examination on Norma. Jud off hand mentions that Norma may not want to have an examination and Jud says something to the effect of, “But if we can get her tonight.....gang up on her.”

When Jud says that, Louis notes that something went very wrong in their conversation though Louis couldn’t put his finger on what it was. When Gage makes his revelation, we realize that Jud had his suspicions about Norma’s behavior.

Also, remember when Jud tells the Timmy Batterman story, Jud says he gets home and all 3 of his friends are all aready there and relaxing on the back porch. While this is not the most telling detail, it is odd for 3 men to go to a man’s house while his wife is home and he’s not and for all 3 men to have made themselves at home.

You’ll also notice that when Gage makes his revelation, Jud doesn’t say “Liar!” or even “Shut up!”

He says, “Stop!”.....as in, “I don’t want to hear this. I don’t want to know about this. Please stop.”

Remember Jud also says about Timmy Batterman, “It only told us the bad because it was bad.” The Wendigo knew he would eventually have another go round with Jud, which is why he didn’t reveal Norma’s infidelity at their first meeting. He was saving that nugget because he wanted that to be the piece of info that Jud went to his grave with.

That is part of the M.O. of the Wendigo. Gage could’ve easily stabbed Jud in the throat while he was sound asleep, but there’s no fun in that. The fun for the Wendigo is revealing someone’s deepest, darkest secrets that will cut straight to their soul. That is also why it used the image and memory of Zelda to torment Rachel.

But to answer your question, I have absolutely no doubt that Gage was telling the truth.
 

Alan_Sefton

Member
Dec 6, 2017
13
43
42
It shows SK'S brilliant writing that there are good cases for either point of view here. That's exactly what I would be aiming for if I wrote a novel - letting people make up their own minds. Plus I care about the characters, so I don't want it to be true - again, that's down to the author's natural gifts.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
It shows SK'S brilliant writing that there are good cases for either point of view here. That's exactly what I would be aiming for if I wrote a novel - letting people make up their own minds. Plus I care about the characters, so I don't want it to be true - again, that's down to the author's natural gifts.
I couldn't agree more, Alan.
 

Wayoftheredpanda

Flaming Wonder Telepath
May 15, 2018
4,907
22,094
20
They will have to that anyway, because Gage was too young to speak.
I don't know the MPAA's rules, but there are things which they demand to be cut or they won't pass a movie. Even if it's not a young actor saying it for real, they could still object to the idea as such.
It’s pretty much the same thing with Regan from The Exorcist, although what movies are allowed has changed dramatically since that came out
 

Gerald

Well-Known Member
Sep 8, 2011
2,201
7,168
The Netherlands
It’s pretty much the same thing with Regan from The Exorcist, although what movies are allowed has changed dramatically since that came out

The last part of Pet Sematary (the novel) always reminded me of The Exorcist. But the child in Pet Sematary is much younger, I can't think of another horrorfilm that uses such a young child in a similar situation.
I get the feeling they were very careful about what they were doing with such a young child, and what they could show. He was also hit by a truck, but only has one scar on his forehead and looks normal apart from that.