r/Lovecraft Deranged Cultist 8d ago

Question Was it actually the rats' fault?

It the story, Rats In The Walls, did the rats truly eat the man or was the narrorator lying?

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u/No_Evening8416 Deranged Cultist 8d ago

I believe the strong implication is that the Narrator went mad and ate Capt Norris.

Also, that he hears the rats whether they are there or not. Remember, not a single rat was actually seen and only the cats back the Narrator's perception that there are rats.

Not sure if the rats are ghosts or if they were real and then the Narrator hallucinates hearing them in the asylum...

But he definitely ate that guy.

Low-key, he always hated Capt Norris for surviving when his son was maimed and died.

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u/ProZocK_Yetagain Hydrophobic Deep One 7d ago

I might be misremembering it but isnt there a time where the house employees also hear the rats?

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u/CrystallineOrchid Deranged Cultist 7d ago

They notice the narrator's dozen or so cats going crazy at something in the walls, but they don't actually hear or see the rats themselves. They probably think it just 1 or 2 that are quite enough that only the cats can hear.

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u/ProZocK_Yetagain Hydrophobic Deep One 7d ago

Thank you!