The community

The collective character of the community is an essential part of the short story "The Werewolf" by Angela Carter. Their outer characterization reveals that the community lives in a “northern country” (l. 1), where the weather is bad, the beasts are dangerous, and life is “hard” (l. 3). The woodsmen (l. 8) live in poor conditions, having minimal furniture and possessions: “A bed, a stool, a table. Harsh, brief, poor lives.” (ll. 6-7).

The community’s inner characterization reveals the way this collective character functions. First, there is the mention of the “crude icon of the virgin behind a guttering candle” (ll. 4-5), which suggests the people are religious. Furthermore, they believe in the existence of the Devil: “To these upland woodsmen, the Devil is as real as you or I. More so; they have not seen us nor even know that we exist, but the Devil they glimpse often in the graveyards…” (ll. 8-10). The community is also superstitious and believes in ...