Gage Creed is evil in Pet Sematary primarily because he becomes possessed by the malevolent spirit of the wendigo after his resurrection. His posthumous return is not a return to life, but rather a corruption by an ancient, dark force.
The Tragedy of Gage Creed
Gage Creed is introduced as a charming and innocent small toddler, the youngest child of Louis and Rachel Creed. His life takes a devastating turn when he is tragically killed after being hit by a truck. This event shatters the Creed family and sets in motion the desperate actions that lead to his "return."
The Wendigo's Influence
The evil that consumes Gage stems directly from the ancient burial ground situated beyond the Pet Sematary. This ground is tainted by the wendigo, a malevolent entity from Native American folklore that embodies greed, cannibalism, and supernatural malice. When a body is buried in this cursed ground, the wendigo's influence:
- Reanimates the Corpse: It brings the deceased body back to a semblance of life.
- Corrupts the Soul: The resurrected individual is not truly themselves. Their consciousness is warped and replaced by a cruel, predatory, and often highly intelligent evil.
- Instills Malice: The returned entity harbors immense hatred and a desire for violence, often targeting those closest to them.
In Gage's case, his small body becomes a vessel for this ancient, overwhelming evil. He is no longer the sweet, innocent child his parents knew but a monstrous, mocking entity that delights in inflicting terror and pain.
Gage as an Antagonist
After his resurrection, Gage Creed acts as one of the two main antagonists in Pet Sematary. His actions demonstrate the full extent of the wendigo's corruption:
- Supernatural Strength: Despite his toddler size, the reanimated Gage possesses unnatural strength and agility.
- Cunning and Cruelty: He exhibits a horrifying cunning, playing on the emotions of his family before unleashing brutal attacks.
- Symbol of Desecration: Gage embodies the novel's central theme: the idea that death is final, and attempts to circumvent it lead only to horror and desecration of the natural order. His evil is a direct consequence of defying nature.
Essentially, Gage is not evil by choice or inherent nature but becomes evil as a victim of a dark, supernatural possession that warps him into a creature of pure malice, driven by the wendigo's ancient power.
