Demon Copperhead

Water is an important symbol in Demon Copperhead. This symbolism is first developed in Demon’s remarkable birth: He is born with his amniotic sac intact, as though protected from the traumas the world will present through a thick, water-like skin. Mrs. Peggot declares that this symbolizes his luck, declaring Demon will never die by drowning. Thus, water saves him from water.

As he grows up, Demon has a fascination with the ocean, which he has never seen. He dreams about seeing the ocean but can’t explain why. This dream, though subconscious, ends up being very fitting. Two important events in Demon’s life involve one body of water: Devil’s Bathtub. This is where Demon’s father dies by accidental drowning, and it is later the site of the deaths of two of Demon’s friends. Water, which first appeared during Demon’s birth, becomes a symbol both of death and rebirth, as these deaths inspire Demon to turn his life around. At the end of the novel, Angus and Demon ride away together to see the ocean, symbolizing their future relationship and their love.