Also I think that Hooper picked his bedroom very wisely, as it is at the top of the house and it overlooks everything, Hooper shows that he is the owner of the house by being the King of the castle as he is very high up.
As the story develops we realize that the two boys do not get on very well together, and as Hooper is the King in his house or “fortress” he can make Kingshaw do any thing he likes.
As a child Hooper plays many games, but which are more related to war and death.
Such as the huge neatly drawn out battle plan on his wall, and his war models.
Kingshaw hates being in doors, and will leave whenever he gets the chance; he feels more in control of things outside in the wild living naturally, among wild insects and animals and does not fear them, on the other hand Hooper feels he is the King inside the house and is reduced to a helpless baby when he leaves his “fortress”.
But when Kingshaw was walking in the cornfields a crow came and swooped down at him he was so scared he ran out of the field and ran straight home back to Warings. Meanwhile Hooper still in his room, could see everything, and then decided to do something, something that would scare the life out of Kingshaw. The crow in the story signifies fear and death with its black colour, and so Hooper had killed one and as Kingshaw was asleep he quietly placed it on his bed waiting for a scream.
In the story there are many references to children’s nursery rhymes, childhood and childrens games, such as the game of snakes and ladders. Also the punch and Judy show, you would think that for children things like fairy tales and shows should be really nice and involve absolutely no violence in them. But the truth is, that there is a lot of violence, this is to teach children from an early age that life is not easy, and rules of punishment such as the pecking order and how many people can be very cruel to others, it also helps the child learn how to deal with problems in life, when it occurs, and unfortunately in this story it happens quite a lot. But this story is not intended for children, as it is a book for adults.
When Hooper plays with his models and makes war plans, he sublimates the childish games into horrific psychological reality.
The title of the story is a metaphor in many indistinct ways, such as who can be the King of the castle as the word before that is “I’m”, this must mean that there is fighting over leadership at any one time. Also what is the castle, in my opinion I think that the castle represents, Warings Hooper’s house, as he sees himself as the “king” of Warings. In the story there are many continual sources of medieval and military periods such as the reference to Napoleon and Wellington.
There are many “castle” images that are featured in the novel, such as when Kingshaw builds the “helter-skelter”, which is castle shaped or maybe tower shaped. He also builds a medieval battle-ship; these are symbolic as they show the way that he is trying to defend himself against Hooper.
Hangwood also has a symbolic name; it suggests a historic place of violence, such as a place of hanging. And Kingshaw escapes to become a form of a Robin Hood figure, as he feels free in the forest from civilization and from rule by other people. Hooper on the other hand cannot cope away from Warings, as he is un-natural, in the natural world. Feilding another boy Kingshaw meets has a symbolic name to it, as it has reference to “Field”. And Kingshaw is able to communicate with him much more freely.
Outside Warings there are many yew trees, these only grow in graveyards, also the rhododendrons, these also symbolise death and gothic imagery.
There is a massive symbolism to do with water; water helps life, and without it nothing can live, but Kingshaw is scared of water since he was a baby, as it makes peoples bodies distorted and un-natural looking, this gets him scared and Hooper knows this, that is why he gives Kingshaw the yellow submarine that came out of the cornflakes packet. But what I don’t understand is why he went into the water and killed himself, maybe it was because it was the most natural thing for him, as when you are in your mothers tummy, it is the same feeling as if you were floating in water.
The idea of “king” is also attached to Joseph Hooper, as his ancestor built Warings, in a mock medieval style, using polished oak, for stair banisters etc. this is a false house but it reflects imagined historic period that becomes gothic parody.
Mr Hooper also thinks that he has gained power and authority in being “King” of Warings “My place in the country” Dynastic is also a word that associates royal kings, and he is not of royalty as his ancestors would have made the hoops for wagon wheels.
I think that all the problems in the story could have been avoided if the parents were in contact with the children, but this novel I think goes to show how people would react if they were trying to gain power over something. But this must be all part of growing up, and I think the only reason why Hooper was doing all these things is because he likes to be alone, and he is afraid of someone else taking over in his place of power!
