Imagery of violence
Violence is a key aspect of the text and creates a sense of horror and fear. Susan’s father resorts to violence to discipline her, and we learn that this is a common occurrence at home. At the beginning of the novel, Susan and her father are visiting the rectory, and her father "seized her arm roughly and yanked her along, hissing angry words." Gregory later beliefs that Susan’s violent upbringing has led to her disruptive behavior. Susan herself also attacks the priest, piercing her nails into his throat.
Imagery of possession and exorcism
This text set the precedent for the surge in popularity of horror novels and films in the 20th century and created a lot of the imagery now associated with possession and exorcism. When Susan is being exorcised, she screams, curses and laughs maniacally, which is all part of the image of exorcism we see in horror films today. In one scene, Susan contorts her body and also throws up "jet after jet of reeking substance that covered her and splattered the wall and ran sluggishly in long vicious tendrils down the wall." These are images we still see today in modern horror films.
The Imagery of God
The novel opens with the passage: "Perhaps because God has become a nodding Santa Claus with twinkling eyes and a spun glass beard." Here the narrator presents God as being fanciful and imaginary, almost like something from a fairy-tale. This image of God is significant in the text, as Gregory is saying something about the naivety of modern religion. During the novel, he sees a darker side to religion and struggles to align what he sees with his own faith.
