My reflections on Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead is the first book I have read by Barbara Kingsolver, and if every book of hers is as epic as Demon Copperhead, then I only wish I could’ve discovered her sooner.

In the span of a few pages, this book has secretly encased many subtle, beautiful messages about life, resilience and the power of kindness. I am no literary critic, but the language in this book is witty and humorous – the narrative told from the perspective of a young teenager Damon Fields, endearingly known as Demon Copperhead. Having read the book, here are some of the themes and messages that I distilled from the story and that resonated with me the most.

Life Goes On – Deal with It

I perceived Demon Copperhead as a story of the rawness of life – its defeats, struggles, and the unyielding resolve to live to see another day. ‘Life goes on, deal with it’- that was the first of many takeaways I had after reading this book.

Right from a young age, Demon leads a nomadic, impermanent life. Having lost his mother to addiction and never known to have a father figure, Demon becomes another DSS (Department of Social Security) case. His life is a carousel of hardships. From forced child labour on a tobacco farm at Creaky’s, his first foster home to working with hazardous battery acid for a living to survive at his second foster home at McCobbs, Demon gets a crash course on survival from a young age. If underage labour isn’t enough, he gets conned out of his life savings on his way to find his only known relative – his grandmother Betsy.

The story weaves through a string of ups and downs in Demon’s life – from his popularity as a football General to his downfall to drug addiction, from finding his first love to losing it all and coming full circle to homelessness. But through it all, Demon finds a way to take life head on and keep moving forward. One of my favourite quotes from the book goes –

“The wonder is that you could start life with nothing, end with nothing, and lose so much in between.”

Barbara Kingsolver

This theme of perseverance, even when life feels relentless, is one of the many reasons I found the book so impactful.

Have the Grit. Take It One Step at a Time

In one part of the book, when Demon spirals into addiction, one of the few people who believe in him – Aunt June – convinces him to seek professional help for his addiction. But it is his resolve to achieve this path of sobriety which makes all the difference. In the book, Demon quotes, “Getting clean is like taking care of a sick person, versus being a sick person. They get all the points for bravery, but they’re locked in. You have to get up every morning and decide again, in the cold lonely light of the day, am I brave enough to stick this out?”

This message – that change requires grit, self-accountability, and the courage to make conscious decisions every day – left a lasting impression on me. It’s a powerful reminder that growth comes in small, deliberate steps.

The Kindness of Others

Throughout the story, Demon has his guards up, his inner voice always telling him ‘Something will eventually go wrong.’ Having faced a lot of difficulties, he always thinks he doesn’t deserve the little good that he is fortunate to receive – always on the edge that all of the good is a mirage, to be lost at any moment.

However, there are people he meets along the way who sees the good in him, the talent that he has and the potential that he holds.

From Mr. Armstrong, the teacher who recognizes Demon’s artistic talent, to Ms. Annie, who nurtures his creative skills, and the Peggot family, who treat him as one of their own to Tommy who encourages Demon’s future graphic artist endeavours, these relationships offer glimmers of hope in an otherwise bleak world. And finally, Agnes (aka Angus) who always has Demon’s back proves that it is the kindness of people around him that makes a difference and shapes his journey.

“One other person can go a long way towards making your world right,” she said, “but the support has to run both ways.”

Barbara Kingsolver

Conclusion

I read this book at a time when I was facing my own battles and at crossroads of life – questioning certain life choices and acts. That was perhaps the reason I could resonate somewhat with Demon’s character. While I am certainly not as battle-hardened as Demon, I hope I can demonstrate resilience, resolve and more importantly surround myself with people who give me the fuel to keep moving on in life.

I wouldn’t have written about this book if I didn’t love it and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for their next reading inspiration.

Note: The stock image for this blog has been referenced from The New York Times