Character Sketch

Karen.

Karen Green, Green=color of leaves in spring and summer, leaves=House of Leaves.
Psychotic analogizes, it is very painful to read about Karen Green. Not in the sense that I'm painstakingly reading this book, instead, I feel bad for her.

I apologize to Terrence in advance for using an almost identical section from the novel to establish a foundation for Karen's character.

On page 11 we learn that Karen was a high end fashion model, who left the lavish life in the city to pursue her a quiet family life. I see this a positive development, or establishment for Karen's character; her ability to leave an expensive lifestyle and move out to a country house as step forward in her life and an attempt to grow up.

There is something on page 11 that I feel is extremely revealing. "Her video entries-in which Navidson promised to view only after the film was shot and then if she agreed-reveal a thirty-seven year old woman who worries about leaving the city, growing old, keeping trim, and staying happy." This is a great revelation into the character of Karen in terms of her relationship to the house and her husband. She was concealing her emotions and molding to her husband, her ever changing emotions, much like the house. This establishes Karen as an individual who may not the best at expressing herself.

Page 102: "Karen unhappily takes over the task of manning the radios." Karen gets dragged into this exploration in which she her husband's and friends contact. She is thrust into a very responsible job where she has to watch her husband fade into the dark unknown, not knowing what will happen to him.