Riddley Walker

Puppets possess symbolic value not only in the broader scope of the text, but also for the characters in the novel. The puppets are broadly based on the traditional British characters of Punch and Judy, a show in which a male puppet interacts with other characters. The shows are typically violent and slapstick, generating comedy from the various ways in which Punch attacks and is attacked by the other characters. For the characters in Riddley Walker, however, the puppet shows are the only form of culture. The traditionally silly and outdated shows become an important vehicle for ideology and entertainment. The Ram uses the shows to teach the population about new ideas, while the population is emotionally invested in the shows because it has no books, movies, or other forms of entertainment. For the characters, the shows symbolize a powerful cultural force and a social activity which cannot be matched.

The physical qualities of the puppets also have symbolic meaning. The Mr. Clevver puppet is described like the traditional Christian devil, as a red man with horns, while the Punch figure which Riddley finds has a hunchback. Mr. Clevver’s devilish appearance is a symbolic reminder of who caused the war which destroyed society, while Punch’s disfigurement is a symbol of the way in which an irradiated society treats mutation and disfigurement with contempt.