You Belong Here

The howling symbolizes a relentless menace. Dictionaries generally define “howling” or “howl” as a mournful, extensive cry, and the disquieting meaning matches the predatory game. About the rules that govern the tradition, Beckett says, “Don’t get caught by the seniors in masks. Don’t be last. Don’t be scared. Don’t cry for help. Don’t, don’t, don’t” (40). The repetition of “don’t” indicates negative outcomes only; the students don’t gain anything great from participating. If the students make it to the old president’s house, what awaits them is “warm beer and the type of liquor designed only to burn your throat going down. A celebration, for those who made it” (41). The term “celebration” is ironic. The crude alcohol doesn’t count as a worthwhile reward; rather, it reinforces the toxic, harsh dynamic among the students, and between the students and locals. The students try to scare each other, and the locals try to scare all of the students. The hollowing permits young people to engage in gamified bullying.

After the deaths of Micah and Charlie, the school forbids the howling, but the red mask in the quarry tells Beckett that “the tradition, banned or not, was still here” (153).