Along Came a Spider

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1993

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 25

Part 2, Chapters 26-43

Part 3, Chapters 44-59

Part 4, Chapter 60-Part 5, Chapter 76

Part 5, Chapter 77-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Symbols & Motifs

Victim Mutilation

Gary Soneji/Murphy was abused as a child, often being locked in a cellar by his stepmother because it was “where bad boys go to think about what they did wrong” (135). He was also sexually abused by his father as an older child. This abuse helped form Gary’s obsession with true crime, including his fascination with serial killers and the Lindbergh kidnapping, which happened close to his childhood home. As an adult, Gary blames much of his abuse on his stepsiblings because they were treated differently by their parents, cared for in a way he was not. This sense of injustice caused him to develop an obsession with harming children.

In Along Came a Spider, most of Gary’s identified victims are women. Gary also mutilates his victims in a way that they become children again in his mind. These mutilations reflect his desire to inflict pain on those he blames the most for his abuse—his stepsiblings. While Gary logically understands his torment was the sole responsibility of his stepmother and father, he takes his wrath out on children because his stepsiblings became symbolic of the love and support he should have received from his parents. He is punishing his stepsiblings through his crimes, and in turn, punishing his parents by taking other children away from their families.

Washington Southeast

Washington Southeast is a neighborhood in Washington, DC, that is predominantly inhabited by poorer people of color. Alex Cross grew up in Washington Southeast and continues to live there as a police officer with the Washington, DC, police department. By living in this area, Alex sees himself as an advocate and symbol of trust, a person whom his neighbors can turn to—which is easier said than done, as the neighborhood sees police officers as untrustworthy. Still, Alex wishes to speak for those who can’t or are disinclined to speak for themselves.

Washington Southeast is a motif that illustrates the divide between working-class neighborhoods and the wealthy politicians who share the city of Washington, DC. The neighborhood in particular illustrates the theme of Discrimination in Society, as the murders in this part of the city are often underreported and lack resources. The fact that Alex lives in this neighborhood underscores his identity being separate from the politicians who run the police department, as he exercises honesty and seeks to protect forgotten people. Southeast Washington is a part of Alex, and this shows in his protest against being taken off the neighborhood’s murder case in favor of a kidnapping in an affluent area.

Piano

Alex has a piano on his front porch that he often plays when he is struggling with his emotions or cases. This piano is mentioned in most Alex Cross novels and becomes reflective of his personality, representing his intelligence and love of music as a way to soothe his soul. The instrument is healing, humanizing, a way for him to work out his feelings as he witnesses multiple tragedies. There is an aspect of romanticism to this process, touching on some of the more intimate aspects of these novels.