#an exploration of Delmar’s grief is nigh overdue

[steampunkhobo]

Okay we need to talk about this.

The clothes that Pete wears for the first third of the movie

are the same ones he leaves behind (obviously) when he’s turned into a frog/captured and taken back to Parchman

and the same ones he changes back into once he’s rescued.

Which means that from when Delmar and Everett wake up and find him missing up until they’re reunited with Pete some 32 hours later, they’ve been carrying his clothes. And by they, I really mean Delmar- it’s a more thoughtful thing than I expect from Everett, and he doesn’t really think Pete’s been turned into a frog, so there wouldn’t be much point. But it’s the exact kind of thing you’d expect from Delmar, nonsensical and kind almost to a fault. There’s a logic to it- “when he gets turned back into a human he’ll need something to wear!”- but it’s half-baked, built on false premises.

But here’s the thing- from the time he and Everett are attacked by Big Dan until they see Pete at the movie theatre, Delmar thinks Pete is dead. Like up until the next day. Easily a 24-hour stretch. And for all that time, he’s still carrying Pete’s clothes. I can’t help but wonder why. Was it hope? Or denial?- and what’s the difference between the two, really? Was he holding onto them on the off chance that Pete would need them anyway? Or was it sentimental? Were they a comfort to him, in his grief? Could he just not bear it to rid himself of the only things he had left of Pete?

If Pete hadn’t found his way back to him- or if he had been right after all- would Delmar have still held onto them?