The Butcher and the Wren

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses graphic violence and potentially disturbing themes related to a serial killer and his crimes.

The smell of decay is a symbol that represents Jeremy’s presence and influence. The two notable moments during which the smell of decomposition is overwhelming is at the jazz festival and at the raid on Jeremy’s property. At the jazz festival, Wren smells the decay “all at once, like an unpredictable hemorrhage” (107). It takes the others a little longer to pick up the scent, which demonstrates Wren’s close connection to Jeremy and her sensitivity to his presence that the other law enforcement officials lack. The smell indicates that Jeremy is present, or was not long ago, and his influence remains, due to the rotting body he left beneath one of the stages. 

The smell of decay appears again when the police raid Jeremy’s property. He unplugged the freezer to let the body in the basement start to rot intentionally. When Wren and the others arrive, the scent is overwhelming, which hints at Jeremy’s presence on the property, lying in wait. It also emphasizes Jeremy’s influence and control over the setting, which results in his ability to escape.