Summary Of Caught In The Widow's Web By Gordon Grice

The essay by Gordon Grice called, “Caught in the Widow’s Web”, provokes the reader to consider the question: why is there evil in a that was created in a good image? Grice examines the black widow and compares it to a evil, merciless creature. The black widow has many evolutionary traits that are not necessary for its survival. Grice’s description of the spider creates a sense of symbolism that the black widow represents a unneeded evil in a world full of good.

Grice describes the widow’s fatal bite saying “it pumps poison into the victim. As the creature dies, the widow still more bites, injecting substances that liquefy the organs” (para 3). This description goes into detail of exactly how the venom moves through the prey’s body and destroys it from the inside out. This shows the spider is a dangerous creature that has no mercy on its victims. Grice also describes the death of the spider when “it was still kicking its remaining legs. Mom scraped it against the floor, grinding it into a paste.” (para 7). The added detail of crushing the spider to a paste shows the spider is evil enough to have a horrific death. The description using the

Grice’s tone in the essay warns that “the widow [is] an emblem for a man’s fear of extending himself into the blood and darkness of a women,” (para 10). Grice is cautions the dangers the black widow processes because his “fascination is rooted in fear.” (para 6). This tone of caution exemplifies the evil of the black widow. Grice mentions the spider has a potential to kill because of “the widow’s venom is, of course, a sound reason for fear. The venom contains a neurotoxin that can produce sweats, vomiting, swelling, convulsions, and dozens of other symptoms.” (para 11). Grice exaggerates the black widow’s danger to exemplify its evil nature. With this tentative attitude toward the black widow, Grice warns of the hazards it has toward other