The Walking Dead: Carol and the rosary
By Susie Graham
Carol Peletier took rosary beads from a walker to use for a multitude of reasons in the safe house with Paula. But she kept them. What could they mean?
On The Walking Dead, Carol used the rosary at first to establish herself as a weak, praying person to Paula and Molly, a nervous little bird. In the end, they established that Carol may be, in fact, a very strong, but very human little bird.
She revealed to Paula that her faith got her through the death of her daughter. When Sophia died Carol told Carl that Sophia was in heaven. Carl told Carol she was stupid for thinking so. Carol reacted pretty strongly to Carl’s disrespect. I’m not sure if Carol’s faith got her through Sophia’s death or if she agreed with Carl.
When Patrick died and Carl wanted to know if Patrick was Catholic, Carol told him that Patrick was a practicing atheist–a more grown up way of reminding Carl that he said it was stupid to believe in heaven and now she thought so, too.
A lot has happened since the prison. Carol has not just lost people, she has killed people. They have a priest right there with them. She has never considered speaking to him about how things in this world figure into faith and God’s plan or if there might be a God or a heaven and a hell and will she be going to either place.
What has affected her change of heart? Why has she decided to leave? Could Morgan have had that much influence on her? What about the length of time without the fight? Was there just too much time to reflect and decompress from all the battle readiness? Is she trying to find forgiveness?
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Why is she holding onto the beads? She may be contemplating things bigger than herself. But rosary beads can serve a purpose that Carol needs at this time. Much like her smoking and baking, Carol needs to think and to calm herself.
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Beads in a rosary are meditative. As are prayers. If you pray the same words over and over, it clears your mind. You are focused on the repetitive nature of the words and your mind relaxes. The beads as counters or just something to touch can be soothing.
If we look at some of the words of the prayers in the rosary, they can be symbolic of Carol’s struggles as well. In the Our Father we have lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. She could be trying to stop the temptation to kill by leaving.
Hail Mary. Mary is the mother. Tobin called her the mom. That was how she could do these things. She knows that if she stays she will continue to be the mom and kill for them because she loves and protects and it has become too hard for her.
Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. No matter what you believe or don’t believe, it’s a nice sentiment to wish good things for all the people good and bad, now and when they die. Especially in this crazy next world.