First Interlude: Gwen, Underfoot – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens in 1990 with Gwen visiting the dying Llewellyn Wren, who recalls killing a young German soldier in Italy with a dark, detached amusement. Later, a heavy snowstorm strands Gwen at home while her father plows campus. She discovers King Sorrow hiding under the basement stairs; he grabs her ankle and tells her that a deal requires someone to die at Easter every year, not just once. Gwen gathers Arthur, Colin, Donna, Van, and Allie to break the news. The group argues about whether to sacrifice a serial killer or fight the dragon. Colin produces a list of potential victims, all men, to spare women the psychological strain.
Gwen also uncovers a clue: a napkin with the name “Katherine Porter” and a phone number. She calls and reaches an antiquarian book dealer, Bridget Fleming, who deals in rare books. Gwen realizes the name is really The Killer Angels and the number is for a bookstore that may possess the Enoch Crane journal—the same book that contains the ritual for inviting King Sorrow. She accompanies Arthur and the others to confront Fleming, but Fleming is hostile and attacks Colin, forcing the group to retreat.
Later, Gwen and Arthur take a dead Christmas tree to the shore to burn it. She confronts Arthur about having sex with Tana Nighswander, a secret King Sorrow had revealed. Gwen tells Arthur she cannot be his lover anymore, though she still cares for him. Arthur admits the act was wrong and says he loves her, but Gwen holds firm.
Back at Llewellyn’s bedside, Gwen administers dragon tears—a poison given by King Sorrow—to the old man, who drinks it willingly. Llewellyn dies in a burst of blue fire, leaving Colin devastated.
The chapter closes with Gwen and Tana planning to break into Fleming’s apartment while she is in London, seeking the Enoch Crane journal. An interspersed scene shows Daphne Nighswander in prison receiving a letter from her late daughter Jayne, which lists the names of the six friends. Daphne memorizes them, vowing revenge. Soon after, she is informed of Jayne’s death.
Key Events
- Llewellyn Wren recounts killing a German soldier during WWII, showing his disturbing detachment from violence.
- King Sorrow appears in Gwen’s basement, revealing that the annual Easter sacrifice is a permanent obligation.
- Gwen informs the group that Arthur has selected her as this year’s sacrifice because she refuses to choose someone else.
- Colin argues that sacrificing a serial killer is morally defensible; Gwen retorts that they are serial murderers themselves.
- Gwen discovers a napkin with a phone number and the name “Katherine Porter” (actually the book The Killer Angels), leading to Bridget Fleming’s rare-book store.
- The group visits Fleming, who refuses to help and attacks Colin with a walking stick; they flee.
- Arthur admits to coercing sex from Tana Nighswander; Gwen ends their romantic relationship.
- Llewellyn Wren dies after drinking dragon tears, which burn his soul from within.
- Daphne Nighswander receives a letter from her deceased daughter Jayne naming the six friends; she memorizes the names and plans revenge.
- Gwen and Tana prepare to burglarize Fleming’s apartment to steal the Enoch Crane journal.
Character Development
- Gwen Underfoot: Emerges as the most proactive and morally complex member of the group. She negotiates with King Sorrow, confronts Arthur’s betrayal, and keeps her emotions in check. Her love for Arthur is real, but she prioritizes honesty and self-respect over romance.
- Arthur Oakes: Displays vulnerability and regret. He admits his past wrongdoing with Tana and seems willing to change, but Gwen’s decision forces him to face the consequences of his privilege and entitlement.
- King Sorrow: Increases his psychological torment of the group by making eternal demands and exposing secrets. He delights in riddling and manipulates Gwen into losing Arthur’s love.
- Llewellyn Wren: Accepts his death with eerie calm, choosing to drink dragon tears rather than suffer further. His final words celebrate pornography, whiskey, long walks, and good books.
- Colin Wren: Deeply attached to his father, Colin breaks down after Llewellyn’s death and retreats from the memorial. His earlier pragmatism about sacrificing serial killers shows his willingness to compromise morality for survival.
- Tana Nighswander: Forms a partnership with Gwen for the burglary, showing resilience and street smarts. She is a survivor who uses what she has to protect her child.
- Daphne Nighswander: In a brief scene, she transforms grief into cold revenge, memorizing the names of her daughter’s friends as targets.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Sacrificial cycles: The shift from a one-time deal to an annual obligation mirrors the inescapable nature of trauma and the way past choices can permanently bind a person.
- Dragon tears: Symbolize both death and transformation. Llewellyn’s soul burns internally, suggesting that moral decay—even when accepted gracefully—still consumes the self.
- Books and knowledge: The Enoch Crane journal represents a potential key to defeating King Sorrow, linking knowledge to power. The rare-book dealer Fleming acts as a gatekeeper.
- Riddling contests: King Sorrow delights in verbal games that strip away hope. The riddle (“Sometimes I taste bitter…”) underscores how truth can be painful and obvious only in retrospect.
- Betrayal and forgiveness: Arthur’s assault on Tana fractures the group’s trust. Gwen’s decision to end their romance—while still caring for him—illustrates the difficulty of reconciling love with accountability.
- Class and power: Arthur’s Oxford education and the group’s relative wealth contrast with Gwen’s working-class family and Tana’s prostitution. The dragon’s manipulation exploits these imbalances.
Why This Chapter Matters
This interlude serves as the emotional and moral center of the novel. It deepens the reader’s understanding of Gwen’s character while laying bare the ugly compromises the group has made to survive. The revelation that the sacrifice must continue every year raises the stakes enormously. The death of Llewellyn Wren removes a stabilizing presence and foreshadows future sacrifices. The introduction of the Enoch Crane journal sets up a concrete goal—find the book, learn how to send King Sorrow away—and turns the chapter from resignation into active resistance. Daphne’s emerging revenge plot introduces a human antagonist, complicating the supernatural threat. The chapter also forces the reader to grapple with questions of moral relativism, trauma, and the limits of love.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Gwen decide to end her relationship with Arthur after learning about Tana?
Gwen values integrity more than comfort. Although she still loves Arthur, she recognizes that his coercion of Tana reveals a selfishness she cannot ignore. By ending the romance, she protects herself from further hurt and sends a message that such behavior has real consequences. The dragon’s riddle forces her hand, but her decision aligns with her own moral code.
2. What is the significance of Llewellyn Wren’s death scene?
Llewellyn’s calm acceptance of death and his enjoyment of the dragon tears symbolize a final, bittersweet liberation from his illness and his past sins. His dying words—“fascinating”—and the blue fire that erupts from him suggest that even a compromised soul can burn brightly. The scene also deepens Colin’s grief and motivates him to continue the fight, but it leaves him emotionally scarred.
3. How does the mention of Enoch Crane’s journal change the story’s direction?
The journal represents the only known hope for understanding how King Sorrow was summoned and, potentially, how to banish him. Gwen’s discovery of the phone number and her plan to burglarize Fleming’s apartment marks a shift from passive sacrifice to active research. It transforms the narrative from a horror of inexorable fate into a mystery with a concrete prize.