H.P. Lovecraft’s racism is an undeniable and disturbing aspect of his biography and seeps into elements of his fiction. For many modern readers encountering his work, particularly “The Rats in the Walls,” the name he gave his cat often elicits immediate shock and offense. This reaction is understandable, stemming from a heightened contemporary awareness and reduced tolerance for racial slurs, a stark contrast to the more casual acceptance during Lovecraft’s era. This is a similar jolt felt when encountering racial epithets in classic literature like Mark Twain’s novels.
The inflammatory nature of the n-word, the slur used in the cat’s name, continues to resonate deeply and cause pain today. While historical context suggests Lovecraft’s intent might not have been malicious in the way the term is understood now, the impact of the word remains potent. Publishers have grappled with this issue when reprinting “The Rats in the Walls,” sometimes opting to sanitize the cat’s name with less offensive alternatives like “Blackie” or “Black Tom,” as seen in a 1956 issue of Zest magazine. These substitutions aim to preserve the original sense without the overt racial connotations.
When engaging with Lovecraft’s works or biographical accounts today, it’s crucial to acknowledge and understand the historical context in which he lived and wrote. These are uncomfortable historical realities that demand our consideration and personal reconciliation. It’s important to recognize that the offensiveness of certain language can evolve and intensify over time. While the cat’s name is undeniably jarring to contemporary sensibilities and might serve as sensationalist fodder online, focusing solely on it risks overshadowing the more profound and explicitly prejudiced statements Lovecraft articulated throughout his life. Therefore, while acknowledging the shock value of H.P. Lovecraft’s cat name, it is not the most nuanced example of his deeply ingrained racism.
