Arthur Oakes: The Compromised Hero of King Sorrow

Overview

Arthur Oakes is a compassionate but trapped student at Rackham College who becomes entangled in a supernatural pact with the dragon King Sorrow. Forced to steal rare books from his library under threat to his imprisoned mother, Arthur’s journey traces a descent into moral compromise and a long, painful climb toward redemption. His arc is the emotional spine of Joe Hill’s King Sorrow, blending dark academia, psychological horror, and the cost of making deals with unknowable forces.

Plot Role

Arthur serves as both protagonist and catalyst. His theft of rare books for the Nighswander crime family (the “special collection” and the Crane journal) sets the plot in motion and brings the dragon King Sorrow into the friends’ lives. He is the one who chases Enoch Crane through the snow and retrieves the human heart offered to the dragon. His decision to summon King Sorrow to destroy Jayne Nighswander and Ronnie Volpe binds the group to an annual sacrifice. Later, Arthur becomes a scholar of medieval dragon lore, working with Colin Wren to find a way to banish the creature, and ultimately disappears into Welsh woods, dying alone in a troll’s lair. His death and Colin’s betrayal carry consequences that ripple into the later interludes.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Arthur’s defining trait is compassion, first seen when he offers his hoodie to Tana Nighswander to cover her banned shirt during a prison visit (Chapter 1). He intervenes to protect Tana from her mother’s violence, accidentally breaking Mama Nighswander’s nose (Chapter 2). However, his compassion becomes a vulnerability. Jayne Nighswander exploits his love for his mother by threatening to have her assaulted unless Arthur steals for them. Arthur’s guilt and shame are evident: he cannot bring himself to kiss Gwen Underfoot because he feels unworthy after his sexual encounter with Tana (Chapter 27). He drinks whiskey for the first time and dreams of dragons. His later pursuit of knowledge—deciphering Old English, researching trolls, seeking the Surrealist’s Glass—shows a determination to undo what he has done, even at the cost of his own life.

Chronological Arc

Arthur’s arc can be divided into four phases:

1. Innocent Bystander: He visits his mother in prison, helps a stranger, and continues his studies. He is innocent of theft but burdened by his mother’s crime.

2. Moral Compromise: Blackmailed by Jayne, he steals rare books from the Brooks Library. He steals the Crane journal, the human‑skin volume that terrifies Jayne. He summons King Sorrow alongside his friends, trading a life for protection.

3. The Long Debt: After the initial summoning, Arthur must navigate the consequences. He helps Gwen apply to Rackham, tries to end the thefts by bringing a valuable book to Jayne, but realizes he cannot escape. The dragon marks all six friends. Arthur’s mother is released from prison (Chapter 34), giving him a moment of relief, but the Easter sacrifice looms.

4. Descent and Death: Years later, Arthur becomes a recluse, hunting trolls in England. Colin Wren betrays him, taking the vial of holy blood for himself and leaving Arthur to die in a troll’s tomb (Chapters 117–119). Arthur’s final words are for Gwen and Psalm 23. His death becomes a source of guilt for the survivors.

Relationships

• Gwen Underfoot: Arthur’s true love. Their summer together is the “best part of his life.” He pulls away from kissing her out of guilt, and she later learns of his affair with Tana, ending their romance (First Interlude). Yet they remain connected; she carries his imaginary presence after his death.

• Tana Nighswander: A complicated, coercive relationship. Arthur sleeps with Tana partly to stay in Jayne’s good graces. Tana later reveals the encounter to Gwen, causing rupture. Arthur treats Tana with kindness (offering her a ride, promising to help) but also exploits her for information.

• Colin Wren: Friend and rival. Colin admires Arthur’s intellect and mystical knowledge, but he ultimately abandons Arthur to die. Colin’s betrayal stems from his own selfishness: he chooses the vial of blood over reviving his friend.

• Donna and Van McBride, Allie: Fellow summoners. Arthur is close to all, but his lies about the thefts strain trust. After the dragon pact, they share a psychic bond.

• Erin Oakes: Arthur’s mother, a former minister imprisoned for manslaughter. His entire arc is motivated by protecting her. Her release is his greatest victory, but he cannot fully escape his own guilt.

Key Decisions and Consequences

• Lending the hoodie: Establishes his compassion and connects him to the Nighswanders, leading to blackmail.

• Stealing the books: The first theft (Chapter 5) initiates his moral compromise. Later stealing the Crane journal (Chapter 26) gives Jayne nightmares but also seals Arthur’s guilt.

• Agreeing to the dragon pact: He chooses Jayne and Ronnie as sacrifices, trading a life on Easter. This decision brings temporary safety but long‑term horror, including the loss of Van’s life years later.

• Pulling away from Gwen: Avoids romantic entanglement to protect her from his dangerous life—but also isolates himself.

• Pursuing the troll hunt: His search for a way to banish King Sorrow leads to his death, but his research aids the surviving group.

Theme and Symbol Connections

• Revenge and Consequences: Arthur’s desire to stop Jayne backfires; the dragon demands lives forever. His revenge is hollow.

• Dark Academia and Knowledge: Arthur’s academic obsession with rare books, Old English, and dragon lore mirrors the novel’s love of esoteric knowledge—but knowledge alone cannot save him.

• Moral Compromise and Guilt: Each theft deepens his shame. He is a “good person” doing terrible things for love.

• Sacrifice and Redemption: Arthur’s death in the troll’s chasm is a form of sacrifice; he gives up his life for a chance to defeat King Sorrow.

• Friendship and Betrayal: Colin’s betrayal underscores how even deep friendship can break under the weight of power and survival.

Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Arthur steal rare books for Jayne Nighswander?
Arthur is blackmailed: Jayne threatens to have his mother, Dr. Erin Oakes, assaulted in prison if he doesn’t deliver valuable books from the Brooks Library special collection.

2. How does Arthur first meet King Sorrow?
After Colin Wren finds the summoning ritual in the Crane journal, the group gathers at The Briars. Arthur chases Enoch Crane through the snow to retrieve a human heart, then places it on a platter before the inverted helmet that becomes the dragon’s vessel.

3. What is the significance of the Surrealist’s Glass in Arthur’s story?
The glass is a mystical object given to Arthur by Colin; it shows the secret truth of things. Arthur uses it in his later research, and after his death, Colin takes it and eventually uses it to see the Long Dark inside himself.

4. Why does Arthur choose to vanish into the Welsh woods?
After feeling responsible for civilian deaths caused by King Sorrow during the Iraq War (a choice he made on Colin’s intel), Arthur becomes a recluse, seeking a way to banish the dragon. He eventually tracks the troll Stu Finger, which leads to his death.

5. Does Arthur find redemption?
The novel implies a partial redemption. He dies trying to undo the harm he helped cause, and his actions (like helping Gwen get into college) have positive consequences. However, his affair with Tana and his role in the dragon pact stain his legacy. The survivors remember him with love, but his death is a tragedy.