54 pages • 1 hour read
Frank E. PerettiThis Present Darkness
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1986A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Light Versus Dark
The motif of light and dark is present in subtle ways, typically showing up as descriptive of the most spiritually charged moments in which various solutions hang in the balance. The demons are characterized by many dark terms; for instance, they are said to be black, grey, and red in color; they often gather in dark basements; they are most active at night and in the dark. The angels, by contrast, are not described as being light colors, some are even described explicitly as having dark hair or skin. They are described, however, as often being accompanied by light, a symbol of the presence of God.
The darkness described in the novel is a metaphysical or spiritual lack of goodness: “The room was dark, but the darkness seemed more of a presence than a physical condition; it was a force, an atmosphere that drifted and crept about the room” (48). The angels meet in the day, in houses and churches in broad daylight, and in the final victory light from heaven pours out of the clouds onto the whole host of angels gathered in the middle of town as they watch the final proceedings at the jailhouse and the college.
Prayer as Power
Prayer appears in the novel as a source of comfort and hope for the characters, but it also functions in the symbolic world as a source of power for good. There are three different ways that prayer functions as power. First, prayer is a straightforward way for the humans to give thanks to God and bring good effects about in the world. As a means for both communication and worship, the act of human prayer is an act of humility that both calls out to God for help and helps the individual to see the world more clearly.
The second way that prayer conveys power is when it is weaponized to defeat the demons. Human beings cannot physically hurt a spiritual creature, but the power of their prayer is enough to cast demons out people, places, or things. Though the term is never used in the novel, prayer has an exorcizing power.
Finally, prayer serves as a power source for the angels in their battle. The angels regularly speak of needing to gather “prayer cover” in the preparation for the final battle. For instance, an angel is said to be absent due to him “gathering the prayer cover for the operation tonight” (258), and their weapons are described as being charged with the power of prayer. This symbolizes that ordinary people have the power to defeat evil and provides reciprocity to the idea that angels guard and protect humans; the humans’ prayers aid the angels as well.
Hierarchy
There are multiple forms of organizational hierarchies present in the novel, a motif that highlights how power and leadership function. The first form of hierarchy is present in the Ashton Community Church. Pastor Hank is at the top, aided by the church’s board and a group of elders that helps settle disputes. Hank functions as the sole leader as far as spiritual matters are concerned, but otherwise the governing activity is relatively democratic. This group power structure symbolizes the importance of the church as a community, rather than the importance of a single individual. God is ultimately at the top of this hierarchy, which reinforces the idea that human hierarchy is always secondary to God’s power and laws.
More hierarchical are Omnicorp and the Ashton branch of the Universal Consciousness Society. An individual’s rank is based on how close they are to the most influential members of the society, regardless of their identity or vocation. Among the regular characters, Alf Brummel finds himself toward the bottom of the Omnicorp hierarchy while Oliver Young and Juleen Langstrat occupy higher positions (still themselves being subordinate to Kaseph, who is the highest leader present in the novel). Representing the novel’s antagonist, Omnicorp’s hierarchy represents the temptation of toadyism rather than gaining influence or respect on one’s own merits. Each member of Omnicorp is motivated by selfish gain, and this is reflected in how the organization is structured.
Representing the highest forms of hierarchy are the spiritual ranks of both angels and demons, who all function according to a very strict order, with numerous levels of rankings answering to their immediate superiors. However, even here there is a distinction since the demons tend to break ranks in their attempts to undermine one another in bids for superiority while the angelic hierarchy is peacefully ordered and in harmony. Like the hierarchy of the church, the angels’ hierarchy is headed by God, and their acceptance of this is rewarded by their victory. The demons, like the members of Omnicorp, all strive for personal power and have less respect for their established ranks. This leads to their defeat, as they cannot unify under a single entity or mission.
