Together with the story of Count Dracula, the story of the Delapore family is recognized from many audiences as equally as terrifying and chilling.  In the short story, “Rats in the Walls,” the main character Delapore goes back to his hometown to restore his ancestors’ estate. During his stay, he discovered rumors and secrets about his family that he never knew before. Along with a family friend, Captain Norrys, and a trustworthy cat, they uncover something they should have left behind to hide from the public. The author, H.P. Lovecraft, is able to develop the theme of horror using setting, symbolism, and allusions. With these literary devices, the reader can get a sense of atrocity and suspense that leaves the reader wanting more.

Lovecraft describes Delapore’s ancient home with styles of historic and grotesque architecture, “Exham Priory had remained untenanted, though later allotted to the states of the Norrys family and much studied because of its peculiarly composite architecture; an architecture involving Gothic towers resting on a Saxon or Romanesque substructure...” (75).  The Gothic and Romanesque architecture, as described by Lovecraft, leaves an eerie atmosphere to the short story. The architecture is globally known to be described with ruined castles and dark abbeys which emanates a spooky atmosphere. Lovecraft fully incorporated Delapore’s abnormal family line to the theme of horror with the help of their abode. There were some unflattering rumors about the Delapore family from the neighboring villagers, “My son had told me that he was somewhat avoided during his visits because he was a de la Poer, and now I found myself subtly ostracized for a like reason…” (77). Exham Priory was abhorred by the local farmers because of the haunting rumors of the family that lived there. Horrific elements are exemplified through the hatred and fear of the locals. The reader eventually figures out that the Delapores were known to be performing cannibalisms and cult-like acts in their homes. The Delapores family was remembered as extremely disturbing that the locals sometimes had trouble talking about them.

Lovecraft frequently uses allusions in his short stories to gain a historic mood in addition to the ghastly tone. “What, I thought, of the hapless rats that stumbled into such traps amidst the blackness of their quests in this grisly Tartarus?” (88). In this quote, Delapore described the cliff in the sub-cellar by comparing it to Tartarus, the home to the god of the underworld which greatly contributes to the theme of horror by describing it as similar to the underworld which depicts an evil setting. The author uses the words ‘blackness’ and ‘grisly’ to reiterate to his readers of his consistent theme of horror and also to give an image. Another instance is exemplified when the protagonist discovers the secret entrance to the family’s sub-cellar. “.. a low crypt with cases of formally arranged bones, some of them bearing terrible parallel inscriptions carved in Latin, Greek, and the tongue of Phrygia” (87). In this scene, Delapore and Captain Norrys discover the sub-cellar and the mysterious engravings. The mention of the tongue of Phrygia again suggests a historic and strange atmosphere. The inexplicable and puzzling expedition to the sub-cellar sets the theme of horror because the discovery foreshadows into something horrific Delapore encounters later on.    

Symbols are developed by Lovecraft throughout his short story with the repetitive use of characters, such as rats. Rats were unfavorably mentioned in the tale. The reader can visualize by Lovecraft’s description of rats being grimy and mysterious, “...rats-the scampering army of obscene vermin…” (78). Lovecraft distinguishes the rats in a negative connotation, using words such as ‘obscene’ or ‘vermin.’ Throughout history, rats have had an undesirable reputation; they were the symbol of death especially during the Black Death era. Lovecraft uses the negative horrific tone of describing the rats to elaborate his theme of horror. The reader is able to recognize the figurative meaning of rats throughout history contributes to the short story. Other than death, rats can also be seen as carriers of pestilence or evil, “…the daemon rats that race behind the padding in this room and beckon me down to greater horrors than I have ever known; the rats they can never hear; the rats, the rats in the walls” (89). The rats he mentions were running behind the padding in the room which ultimately scares the protagonist. The padding is likely meant to be something hidden from the public eye. The ‘greater horrors’ is inclined to be his worst nightmares he has been having the last few days. The repetition of the word ‘rats’ is intended to place emphasis on the symbol of evil and how it creates a horrific scene. The author also wrote ‘daemon rats’ as if they were the devil’s minions. All the components mentioned in the quote suggested Delapore’s insanity. The protagonist constantly blames the rats for a character’s unexpected death. Ultimately, the protagonist’s humanity is lost as he blames the rats instead of himself because he is unable to recognize what he did and his own surroundings. Lovecraft’s description of the rats exemplifies a monstrosity the reader can see in the mind of Delapore. 

As Delapore was intrigued by the eerie rumors of his ancestry, Lovecraft’s writings carry out a grand job of attracting any audience. With the use of symbols, allusions, and setting, the reader recognizes its contribution to the theme of horror. At this point, the audience is surely spooked by many components from the Gothic architecture in the beginning of the story to the many scourging rats eating up one character to death and invading Delapore’s mind. The author’s ghastly writing style influenced Delapore’s behavior throughout the whole story which he eventually behaves likes a lunatic. In the end, his cannibalistic deeds brought up by his alleged cursed family line surely asks the question to who was it to blame, the rats or his own mind? 
