18. The Crucifix

At this point in the book, religion becomes a prominent defense in the fight against vampirism. In particular, the crucifix becomes a mode of defense and it provides a feeling of safety. Ben Mears is about to leave the hospital after visiting Matt Burke who just had a heart attack, but before he leaves, he runs to the closet.

pg.249

"'Here, what are you doing?"

A nurse had come in with a pitcher of water and a bedpan with a towel spread decorously over the opening.

"I'm putting his cross around his neck," Ben said.

"Is he a Catholic?"

"He is now," Bens said somberly.

Immediately upon leaving Matt Burke's side, Ben Mears finds Susan and asks, "Have you got a crucifix?" When Susan found humor in Ben Mears's insistence upon wearing a cross, Ben Mears said, "Believe what you want, but make the cross."

Although Stephen King was trying to show how religion had its place in this horror novel, I can't help but question what the significance of the Catholic church was compared to other forms of Christianity? And what is the difference between a cross and a crucifix? Growing up Lutheran, I was exposed to both the cross and the crucifix and cannot recall if there was a difference.

After doing some research, I came across the New World Encyclopedia and found some information on the significance of the crucifix in the Catholic church. First of all, it says that the cross and the crucifix are related, but they should not be confused with meaning the same thing. The cross emphasizes Christ's resurrection because the cross is empty. It shows that Christ has risen. The crucifix emphasizes Christ's death for the sins of humanity. Therefore, Christ's body is on still on the crucifix.

Unlike the cross, the crucifix is known for exorcising demons. That would explain why the crucifix is more prominent in this novel. It would also explain why the Catholic religion is more prominent in this novel because it is the religion that identifies most with the crucifix. While I find this to be interesting, I question the accuracy of Stephen King's writing. From the previous examples I have shown, you can see that the cross and the crucifix are both mentioned in the novel as scaring away vampires. The facts, however, show that the crucifix is really the only effective form of exorcising. I guess we will never fully know until we come across a vampire and I don't plan on doing that any time in the near future.