The loon is a mysterious and foreboding creature that plays a significant role in Stephen King's novel "Pet Sematary." It is a large, aquatic bird known for its eerie call, which is often associated with death and misfortune.

What is a Loon in Pet Sematary

Loon's Description

King describes the loon as a "great, black bird with a long, slender neck and a sharp beak." Its call is "a mournful, wailing sound that echoed across the lake like a lost soul." The loon is often seen flying over the Pet Sematary, a burial ground located deep in the woods behind the Creed family's house.

Loon's Role in the Story

The loon serves as a symbol of death and resurrection throughout the novel. Its presence is often felt when something tragic is about to happen, and its call is said to herald the arrival of the Wendigo, a malevolent spirit that inhabits the Pet Sematary.

Loon's Connection to Louis Creed

Louis Creed, the novel's protagonist, becomes obsessed with the Pet Sematary after his daughter, Ellie, is killed in a car accident. He buries her in the Pet Sematary, despite warnings from his neighbor, Jud Crandall, that the land is cursed.

Loon's Appearance after Ellie's Death

After Ellie's death, Louis begins to see the loon more frequently. He hears its mournful call echoing through the woods, and he even sees it perched on a tree stump near the Pet Sematary. The loon's presence seems to be a sign that Ellie's spirit is trapped in the Pet Sematary.

Loon's Role in the Ending

At the end of the novel, Louis is driven mad by his grief and desperation. He exhumes Ellie's body from the Pet Sematary and brings her home, where she is resurrected as a monstrous creature known as a Wendigo. The loon is seen flying overhead as Louis and his wife, Rachel, flee from their home, leaving Ellie behind.

Conclusion

The loon in "Pet Sematary" is a symbol of death, resurrection, and the dangers of tampering with the natural order. It is a creature that is both fascinating and terrifying, and it plays an important role in the novel's themes and atmosphere.