I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Jerry Bellows turning up in this song, yet! It could be a coincidence, but the thought of there being some continuity around the songs is pretty tempting, isn't it?
I don't think the guy is actually meant to be the angel of death. I think what it is, is like Cannibalox said, someone living in a town all his life and nobody noticing him and so he obsesses over them and why they must not notice him. Well, that or he must be a bit of a laughing stock in the town- hence why Mr Bellows "shrugged and laughed". And so eventually he creates this mental philosophy of being the angel of death, sent to get vengeance on them for their wrongs.
I think the interesting thing in this song is you're never quite sure which parts are actually happening- after all, this guy is completely nuts, and there's some parts which seem completely jarring. I think we can assume the stuff about ravens and him having wings are his craziness talking, and the murders are probably true and not just a fantasy since the police come along in the end. But how about Richard Holmes? The part where the guy seems to suddenly forgive the narrator for shooting him and his wife- even apologising for offending HIM- seem a bit odd. And couple that with all the parts where people don't put up any fight- like Henry Davenport "made no attempt to move" and Vincent West "made no attempt to resist". It just seems like the narrator is skewing reality to make his goal seem like it's even more moral and just.
What I think about those things that you mention to be the reality rather than the protagonist's own view of the events, is that Cave tries to reflect to the thoughts, actions and changes in behaviour of people who are facing death.
There are several types of people in the story who react differently:
Richard Holmes for examle would even forgive for basically doing nothing offensive just to save his and his loved one's life.
Jerry Bellows could be the cynic and funny one; he could know the protagonist and his life and he didn't think that he was able to do such...
What I think about those things that you mention to be the reality rather than the protagonist's own view of the events, is that Cave tries to reflect to the thoughts, actions and changes in behaviour of people who are facing death.
There are several types of people in the story who react differently:
Richard Holmes for examle would even forgive for basically doing nothing offensive just to save his and his loved one's life.
Jerry Bellows could be the cynic and funny one; he could know the protagonist and his life and he didn't think that he was able to do such things after being so invisible and insignificant for the townspeople for so long.
Those who simply did nothing, they were staggered by the events and feared to do anything at all.
That's how I see it, I don't think there's a deeper meaning with those events and reactions.
I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Jerry Bellows turning up in this song, yet! It could be a coincidence, but the thought of there being some continuity around the songs is pretty tempting, isn't it?
I don't think the guy is actually meant to be the angel of death. I think what it is, is like Cannibalox said, someone living in a town all his life and nobody noticing him and so he obsesses over them and why they must not notice him. Well, that or he must be a bit of a laughing stock in the town- hence why Mr Bellows "shrugged and laughed". And so eventually he creates this mental philosophy of being the angel of death, sent to get vengeance on them for their wrongs.
I think the interesting thing in this song is you're never quite sure which parts are actually happening- after all, this guy is completely nuts, and there's some parts which seem completely jarring. I think we can assume the stuff about ravens and him having wings are his craziness talking, and the murders are probably true and not just a fantasy since the police come along in the end. But how about Richard Holmes? The part where the guy seems to suddenly forgive the narrator for shooting him and his wife- even apologising for offending HIM- seem a bit odd. And couple that with all the parts where people don't put up any fight- like Henry Davenport "made no attempt to move" and Vincent West "made no attempt to resist". It just seems like the narrator is skewing reality to make his goal seem like it's even more moral and just.
What I think about those things that you mention to be the reality rather than the protagonist's own view of the events, is that Cave tries to reflect to the thoughts, actions and changes in behaviour of people who are facing death. There are several types of people in the story who react differently: Richard Holmes for examle would even forgive for basically doing nothing offensive just to save his and his loved one's life. Jerry Bellows could be the cynic and funny one; he could know the protagonist and his life and he didn't think that he was able to do such...
What I think about those things that you mention to be the reality rather than the protagonist's own view of the events, is that Cave tries to reflect to the thoughts, actions and changes in behaviour of people who are facing death. There are several types of people in the story who react differently: Richard Holmes for examle would even forgive for basically doing nothing offensive just to save his and his loved one's life. Jerry Bellows could be the cynic and funny one; he could know the protagonist and his life and he didn't think that he was able to do such things after being so invisible and insignificant for the townspeople for so long. Those who simply did nothing, they were staggered by the events and feared to do anything at all.
That's how I see it, I don't think there's a deeper meaning with those events and reactions.