Jud's fault?
Posted by Amanda Minter | Posted on 1:51 PM
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| The Funeral Service (horrordvds.com) |
Jud knew the power of the burial ground and still brought Louis to it to bury Church Ellie's cat. Not only that, but also he did not ask if it was alright. Jud knows what can happen when a person is buried in the Micmacs Burial grounds. Jud didn't know Gage would be run over but still he knew what could happen because he knew that the burial grounds' power pulled people in. He brings Louis to it only because Louis saved Norma's life and he wanted to do Louis a favor. He also thought it could help teach Ellie a lesson. However, given Jud's past experience with Timmy Baterman, why would he want to risk anything like that?
After Gage's death, Jud realizes that it was a mistake to bring Louis to the burial grounds.
"'...It's an evil, curdled place, and I had no business taking you up there to bury that cat. I know that now. It had a power; you'll beware of it if you know what's good for your family and what's good for you. I wasn't strong enough to fight it. You saved Norma's life, and I wanted to do something for you, and that place turned my good wish to its own evil purpose. It has a power . . . and I think that power goes trough phases, same as the moon. It's been full of power before, and I'm ascared it's coming around to full again. I'm ascared it used me to get to you through your son. Do you see, Louis, what I'm getting at?' His eyes pleaded with Louis. 'You're saying the place knew Gage was going to die, I think.' Louis said. 'No, I am saying the place might have Gage die because I introduced you to the power in the place. I am saying I may have murdered your son with good intentions, Louis'" (King 275).Jud tries to warn Louis not to do anything stupid like trying to bring back his son in the burial grounds. He tells him the story of Timmy Baterman, a tale of how Mr. Baterman brought back his son Timmy after Timmy had been killed in war. He talks about how Mr. Baterman moved Timmy's body from the cemetery where he was buried to the Micmac burial grounds. He then talks about Timmy's complete transformation. Timmy walks down the road night after night and becomes a demon creature of some sort. He tells of how Timmy is now evil and talks of only hate and bad things.
"'It was only the bad it wanted to talk about though. it was only the bad it wanted us to remember because it was bad . . . and because it knew we meant danger for it. The Timmy Baterman tat went off to fight the way was nice, ordinary kid, Louis, maybe a little dull but goodhearted. The thing we saw that night, lookin up into taht red sun . . . that was a monster. Maybe it was a zombie or a dybbuk or a demon. Maybe there's no name for such a thing as that, but the Micmacs would have known was it was, name or no'" (King 273).Then Jud tells Louis the dramatic conclusion, with Timmy's father shooting both himself and Timmy in the chest and then burning the house down. He tries to scare Louis into not even thinking of trying to bring back his son, then leaves and lets Louis think to himself. After Gage's funeral, Louis does indeed dig his son's body up and brings him back. Jud tries to wait and stay up to stop Louis from doing it because he has a feeling that was going to happen, but Jud falls asleep. Was it Jud's fault for not at least attempting a little more to stop Louis before he brings back Gage?
It was Jud's fault because he knew the power of the burial grounds and he knows what can happen due to the resurrection of Timmy. He shouldn't of risked the lives of the Creed family. Bringing Church to the burials grounds because it endangered the Creed family. Jud believes that when the grounds get what they want they'll take what they want by controlling people with their power. Jud had the knowledge of the dangers of the burial grounds and could have prevented more tragedy from happening.
Erica
While this is off-topic, you should read "IT" if you haven't already ... over a thousand pages of pure badassery.
And I think I have to agree with Erica.
First of all I agree with Erica. Absolutely Jud’s fault Gage dies. However I don’t think Erica took it far enough.
You see having only seen the film adaptation I hadn’t seen anything about Louis saving Jud’s wife Norma. Yet I always wondered why Jud would “risk it” as in take Louis to the Micmac burial grounds. Knowing not only his personal experience with his own dog and the Baterman kid Timmy; that NO good can come of using the land/ritual it always blew me away.
Therefore I posit Jud held malicious intent in introducing and goading the interest of Louis in the “magic” just beyond the pet sematary. As revenge for Louis saving her after her heart attack.
I would venture to say Jud was aware of his wife’s affair, and resentful of the doctor who robbed him of his retribution. So the first chance given he basically forces Louis into using the ritual and set in motion his family’s demise. Turning “sometimes dead is better” from a warning to a snide reminder that he shouldn’t have interfered in Norma’s “interrogation”.
Jud gets his comeuppance of course, ironically at the hands of the monster he helped create. Only to be chided by the demon Gage in confirmation of not only one affair but many with his close friends!
Let me know what you think.