Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby
by Ira Levin
read: 2014

My favorite part of Rosemary's Baby is the rich world that Levin created outside the scenes and actions described in the novel. He alludes to a Higgins / Eliza Doolittle history between Hutch and Rosemary; that informs the relationship, but he doesn't write much about it. Terry's journey, including the Castavets plans for her, seem interesting enough to spawn a whole novel, but we just get one conversation around a washing machine. The Castavets themselves are fascinating. The point of view is almost entirely Rosemary's, however, and she has a limited perspective for the history of the people she encounters. But the hint of other tales and stories flesh out the characters and give the story depth.

My biggest issue with the novel, however, also has to do with actions "off-screen." We don't know what the conversations were like leading to Guy deciding to sacrifice Rosemary to be raped by Satan. Did he believe that would actually happen? Did he think the Castavets were crazy? Was he secretly on the verge of bankruptcy? Did he have any occult leanings before? It seems strange, abrupt, and monstrous that Guy would serve up Rosemary having known the Castavets for only a short amount of time.