# VI: The Swine-Things explained — The House on the Borderland

> Chapter companion for The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson.

## What happens

A week after the first supernatural manifestation, the recluse hears a crash from the Pit and investigates, discovering swine-like creatures emerging. He shoots one and flees with his sister Mary to the house. The creatures surround the house, and the recluse fortifies defenses. He hears them communicating in a guttural, quasi-human speech. While searching the basement, he encounters one of the creatures at a window, whose eyes hold him in a paralyzing stare until physical pain breaks the spell.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humanity vs. Primitive Evil

The recluse and his sister are besieged by swine-things from the Pit, representing a primal, malevolent force that threatens human reason and safety.

### Isolation and Madness

The narrator's growing fear and the eerie noises of the house, combined with the creatures' paralyzing stare, push him toward psychological breakdown.

### The Supernatural and the Unknown

The emergence of the swine-things from the Pit and their quasi-human speech defy natural explanation, deepening the mystery of the house and its surroundings.

## Character check-ins

### The Recluse

Investigates the Pit, shoots the swine-things, fortifies the house, and experiences a paralyzing stare from a creature at the window.

### Mary

Sister of the recluse; flees from the swine-things and is sent to her room for safety.

### The Swine-Things

Emerging from the Pit, they pursue the narrator and Mary, surround the house, and communicate in a guttural language; one stares at the narrator through a window.

## Key lines

> Suddenly, I heard a crash, away in the direction of the Pit. With a quick movement, I turned and saw a tremendous column of dust rising high into the evening air.

The narrator hears a loud crash from the Pit and sees a huge dust cloud rising.

_This marks the beginning of the swine-things' emergence._

> As the Thing saw me, it gave a sudden, uncouth squeal, which was answered from all parts of the Pit.

The creature squeals upon seeing the narrator, and other creatures respond from the Pit.

_The swine-things communicate and coordinate their actions._

> I seemed, now, to see the window through a mist. Then, I thought other eyes came and peered, and yet others; until a whole galaxy of malignant, staring orbs seemed to hold me in thrall.

The narrator becomes entranced by the creature's eyes, seeing a multitude of staring eyes that paralyze him.

_The supernatural power of the swine-things affects the narrator's mind._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_on_the_borderland_se/chapters/vi-the-swine-things
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_on_the_borderland_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_on_the_borderland_se/chapters