Welcome to Dead House

Josh is Amanda’s younger brother by one year. While Amanda falters and questions herself, Josh is firmer in his thoughts and decisions, and Amanda says that “when he makes up his mind about something, that’s it” (6). Initially, this trait is disruptive, as Josh argues against moving to Dark Falls and trying to become part of the community. However, as the strange events increase and the tension begins to escalate, Josh’s firmness and sense of self offers a strong counter to Amanda’s uncertainty, allowing the siblings to balance one another out and deal with the danger they face. Josh does not let problems go, and as a result, he is always the one to insist that the siblings take action, whether action is appropriate or not. Josh’s steadfast determination keeps him going, even in the face of the gravest uncertainty. At the end of the book, Josh’s initial assessments of Dark Falls turn out to be true—that the town is dangerous—suggesting that if his family had listened to him from the start, the entire experience could have been avoided.

Mr. Dawes is the realtor who shows the Bensons Dead House, as well as the only citizen of Dark Falls who appears normal from the start. As such, Mr. Dawes is a constant source of confusion for both the characters and the reader. Even as the town’s strangeness increases, Mr. Dawes seems to convey that everything is fine and that there is nothing weird about the town. Thus, when Mr. Dawes arrives at Dead House during the book’s rising action, Amanda and Josh trust him because he has won them over from previous encounters. This allows Mr. Dawes to trick the children, which calls to The Benefits of Teamwork and Trust, emphasizing how powerful a force trust can be. The façade of Mr. Dawes is enough to solidify him as an ally and trusted friend among the evil characters the children encounter. His character suggests that appearances can be misleading or performative.

Ray is the watcher—the person in Dark Falls tasked with keeping the Bensons ignorant of the town’s true nature and purpose. As such, Ray positions himself as a friend and guide to Amanda and Josh so that he can mislead them when he needs to. In this way, Ray symbolizes both The Benefits of Teamwork and Trust and Reality and the Supernatural, as well as the intersection of the two. Ray cannot be trusted because of his supernatural nature, which shows the dangerous and scary side of Dark Falls. Prior to the climax, Josh destroys Ray using his flashlight, which makes Ray a symbol of how the supernatural forces within Dark Falls work. Ray’s demise also gives Amanda the clue she needs to save her parents, which shows the helpful side of the supernatural elements in the story. Once they are understood, the same principles apply across situations, and the unwavering nature of these forces means that they are their own greatest liability.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson are Amanda and Josh’s parents. Neither plays a large role in the book as an individual, but together, they show the impact that adults can have on children. Neither parent believes Josh or Amanda about the supernatural occurrences in the house and town, and while this doesn’t affect Josh too much, it leaves Amanda questioning herself up to the very end of the book. Thus, Mr. and Mrs. Benson show how important it is for adults to treat children with the respect and understanding they would give any other adult. Their capture at the end of the book serves as the catalyst for Amanda to find her self-worth and for Josh to realize that he needs to listen to and trust others instead of stubbornly remaining steadfast in his own beliefs.