The Hermit in Blood Meridian, anyone else have that part engrained in their memory?
Finished Blood Meridian about 2 years ago and the Hermit has always stuck out to me from all the disturbing and ambiguous characters in the book. He only takes up a few pages and shows up early on in Chapter 2 where a conversation is held, a heart is shown, and he's later caught bent over the Boy basically in his bed only to crawl away never to be seen or brought up again. Clearly insane and mentally unwell, the inclusion of how close the Hermit was just makes my mind go wild with questions.
What was he doing? What would have happened if the Boy never woke up? How was the Boy just able to fall back asleep after that?? What are your guy's interpretations of the Hermit and why he was included?
I believe a lot of the prose in the beginning of the book seemed to just be setting up the eerie, dark, and nightmarish world of the book. The Hermit also reflects the predatory behavior of almost every adult to the Boy and especially the Judge's treatment towards children. I really don't have much more thoughts on it besides that and what was written in the book. As someone who watches way too many "scary story" YouTube videos about homeless home intruders and meeting hermits out in the woods while camping, this part was pure nightmare fuel. I can see the scene so vividly in my mind and still get goosebumps thinking back on it.