My thoughts on "The Caretaker" by Marcus Kliewer
In my opinion The Caretaker is a heartbreaking story exploring how suicide survivors and people with depression struggle to get by in a world that is constantly demanding more of the most vulnerable. This book’s entity and the “rites” utilized to keep it at bay I believe to be more satirical than literal. I don’t think this is a literal SCP-type monster with super rigid containment procedures. I believe it to be a malevolent entity that embodies the pressures the mentally ill have to face every day. Whether that means it is an actual embodiment of suicidal ideation or not, no one can truly be sure and the vagueness of the story allows anyone to form their own conclusions on the matter. I personally believe that the entity wants more than anything to make the Caretaker suffer and give up hope so that it can spread its malevolence and their agony far and wide. The “rites” are representative of the day to day work and chores the mentally ill have to slog through for their survival but not necessarily in the best interest for their mental wellbeing. The “visitors” are representative of the people the mentally ill have to deal with and sacrifice their own mental fortitude for in and outside of work. The rabbits are an extremely layered nonspecific representation of the innocence that others ask to be sacrificed for their own personal gain.
Macy Mullins is a well thought out train wreck of woman who has more problems than not with seemingly the entire world working against her. Any person who has felt suicidal, depressed, hatred for the world, or even conflict with their own emotional wellbeing can see themselves in this character. As the caretaker, Macy is tormented by the entity with her past of depression, grief, and hardship and her mental state is pushed to the very limit. While the story can feel slightly inconsistent with the entity’s behavior and the rites Macy has to try in vain to complete, the book succeeds in capturing the exhaustion and hopelessness that those suffering from suicidal thoughts and depression feel when they no longer feel they have no other way out from their own suffering. This is the tragedy of the story and the true raw sympathy it has for Macy and people like her. I wish all who read this my very best and I hope one day we can all believe in a world where less “rabbits” need to be sacrificed for everyone’s wellbeing.