The Monstrefact: He Who Walks Behind the Rows
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What is the origin of the entity 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows' in Stephen King's 'Children of the Corn'?
The entity 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows' is a fictional deity from Stephen King's 1977 short story 'Children of the Corn.' It is depicted as a green-haired, pagan-like figure associated with corn and described as a 'strange green god, a god of corn grown old and strange and hungry.' The story ties into themes of monocrop anxiety and religious horror, with the deity representing a perversion of natural order in industrialized agriculture.
How does 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows' connect to other entities in Stephen King's universe?
The entity 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows' may have connections to other beings in Stephen King's universe, such as the titular entity from 'It.' Additionally, in the 2006 RPG 'Call of Cthulhu,' it is identified as an avatar of the god Shub-Niggurath, described as a twisted fertility and vegetation deity.
What are the mythological and folkloric predecessors of 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows'?
The entity draws from European folklore, particularly German traditions of field spirits like the Korn-Dämonen and the Corn Wolf. These spirits were often malicious and associated with disappearing people, especially children. The Corn Wolf, for example, was a supernatural predator said to haunt fields and prey on the weak, serving as a boogeyman to warn children of real dangers like wolves or outlaws hiding in crops.
How does Stephen King's depiction of corn in 'Children of the Corn' reflect modern agricultural anxieties?
Stephen King portrays the cornfields in 'Children of the Corn' as unnaturally perfect, with no weeds or insects encroaching upon them. This perfection symbolizes the alien and brutal nature of modern, industrialized agriculture, which disrupts natural balance. The deity 'He Who Walks Behind the Rows' embodies this perversion, representing the uncanny and sinister aspects of monocrop farming.
What role do indigenous maize gods play in the context of 'Children of the Corn'?
While the deity in 'Children of the Corn' is fictional, it ties into the legacy of maize as a sacred crop for indigenous Americans. Mesoamerican maize gods like the Aztec Zenteatu and Chicomicoa were central to their cultures, often associated with harvest rites that could involve bloodshed and sacrifice. However, the story's primary inspiration comes from European folklore rather than indigenous traditions.
What is the significance of the Corn Wolf in European folklore?
The Corn Wolf is a supernatural lupine predator in German folklore, said to haunt fields and prey on the weak or unaware. It served as a cautionary tale to warn children of real dangers like wolves or outlaws hiding in crops. The tradition also included symbolic rites, such as burning the 'corpse' of the Corn Wolf annually, reflecting the blending of myth and practical warnings in rural life.
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