The Darkness
Darkness is a metaphor found in novels directed exclusively toward an adult readership as well as in children’s books. It is the defining metaphor of the modern age capable of describing all manner of evils both known and unknown. The metaphor is surprisingly prevalent in this children’s tale, however, as the sage advises that “It is not the darkness you must fear, but he who waits within.” This is not merely advice within the moment, however, but a philosophical assertion. No matter what known or unknown evil “the darkness” refers to metaphorically, one should keep uppermost that darkness is merely the hiding place and not the actual malevolent force hiding there.
Rabbits
The entire structure of the book is based upon giving form to the abstract idea of luck. Leek is Cecil’s personal good luck rabbit, but the understanding is that everyone has their own rabbit, but we never know we have them because they are quick and crafty and part of their deal is that they don’t make their presence known. Rabbits are therefore a metaphor for the good luck in our lives. Both that luck that we recognize and those circumstances we never knew involved were examples of good luck.
Black Cats
By contrast, we all have our own personal black cats. Cecil’s is named Milliken. The black cat is a metaphor for the bad luck that crosses our paths both in the form that we recognize as clearly being circumstances that kept us from getting what we desired as well as that bad luck we initially mistake as a fortunate happenstance.
