Black Lodge
Encyclopedia
The Black Lodge is a fictional setting featured in the television series Twin Peaks
. It is an extradimensional place which seems to include, primarily, the "Red Room" first seen by Agent Cooper
in a dream early in the series. As events in the series unfold, it becomes apparent that the characters from the Red Room, the room itself and the Black Lodge, along with the White Lodge, are connected.
have been combatting for generations. Although they don't know what it is, Native American
policeman Deputy Hawk says that the Black Lodge is from the mythology of his people, describing it as:
During the second season, Windom Earle
relates a past-tense story about the White Lodge:
As the Black and White Lodges become more prominent in the story, Major Briggs claims that during one or more of his disappearances, he had visited the White Lodge and goes on to offer advice regarding it. There is no clear evidence of him being affected by the Black Lodge and it is not clear how he arrives there, aside from a bright flash of light, or what the intentions of his trips were.
Grove.
It is said that the key to gain entrance to the Black Lodge is fear —usually an act of brutal murder. This is in contrast to the key to the White Lodge, which is love. Another requirement to enter the Black Lodge through the entrance in Glastonbury Grove is that it may only be entered "...when Jupiter and Saturn meet..." When the above requirements are met and one approaches the pool in Glastonbury Grove, red curtains appear, which the person walks between before the curtains vanish once again.
and there are no doors to speak of. The floor is a zig-zag pattern of black and white and every wall is covered with red curtains. In the final episode, we see a second room in the Lodge, identical to the first. Between the two rooms is a narrow corridor which has the same floor and "walls" as the other two rooms.
Inhabitants of the Lodge speak in a warped dialect of English and often speak in riddles and non-sequiturs. The main inhabitants of the Lodge are The Man from Another Place, The Giant
and Killer BOB.
In the final episode of Twin Peaks, Cooper meets the Man from Another Place
, who refers to the Red Room as the "waiting room". This coincides with Hawk's claim that every spirit must pass through the Black Lodge on the way to perfection and that the Red Room leads to the White Lodge as well.
The red curtains, zig-zag floors and bright spotlights of the White and Black Lodges have also appeared in several of David Lynch
's other films, suggesting that Lynch may view their influences as ongoing in his narrative worlds.
, The Man From Another Place, The Giant
, Laura Palmer
(passing through the Red Room before ascending to the White Lodge), Chester Desmond, Phillip Jefferies and Dale Cooper. The spirits can take over humans: BOB possessed Leland Palmer
and later, Dale Cooper; The Giant possessed the elderly waiter from the Great Northern; and MIKE possessed Phillip Gerard.
conductor Angelo Badalamenti
helped write the song "Black Lodge" on the 1993
Sound of White Noise
album by Anthrax
.
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
. It is an extradimensional place which seems to include, primarily, the "Red Room" first seen by Agent Cooper
Dale Cooper
FBI Special agent Dale Bartholomew Cooper is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan. He is the lead protagonist of the series, and briefly appears in the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me....
in a dream early in the series. As events in the series unfold, it becomes apparent that the characters from the Red Room, the room itself and the Black Lodge, along with the White Lodge, are connected.
History
At first it is revealed that there is a mysterious dark presence in the woods that the town's Bookhouse BoysBookhouse Boys
The Bookhouse Boys are a secret society on Twin Peaks, formed to combat the darkness surrounding the town. As of the beginning of the series, they are not aware of the existence of the Black and White Lodge as such, but do know that there is a kind of evil surrounding the town which causes dark and...
have been combatting for generations. Although they don't know what it is, Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
policeman Deputy Hawk says that the Black Lodge is from the mythology of his people, describing it as:
- "the shadow-self of the White Lodge. The legend says that every spirit must pass through there on the way to perfection. There, you will meet your own shadow self. My people call it 'The Dweller on the ThresholdDweller on the thresholdThe Dweller on the Threshold refers to a purported invisible and possibly malevolent entity that attaches to a human being. The term was first used by Bulwer-Lytton in his novel Zanoni.In theosophical literature, Helena P...
' ... But it is said, if you confront the Black Lodge with imperfect courage, it will utterly annihilate your soul."
During the second season, Windom Earle
Windom Earle
Windom Earle is a fictional character in the American TV series Twin Peaks, played by Kenneth Welsh.He is a former FBI agent, and the former partner and best friend of Agent Dale Cooper. He features in the second half of the second season. He is an evil genius and a master of disguise, well-versed...
relates a past-tense story about the White Lodge:
- "Once upon a time, there was a place of great goodness, called the White Lodge. Gentle fawns gamboled there amidst happy, laughing spirits. The sounds of innocence and joy filled the air. And when it rained, it rained sweet nectar that infused one's heart with a desire to live life in truth and beauty. Generally speaking, a ghastly place, reeking of virtue's sour smell. Engorged with the whispered prayers of kneeling mothers, mewling newborns, and fools, young and old, compelled to do good without reason ... But, I am happy to point out that our story does not end in this wretched place of saccharine excess. For there's another place, its opposite: A place of almost unimaginable power, chock full of dark forces and vicious secrets. No prayers dare enter this frightful maw. The spirits there care not for good deeds or priestly invocations, they're as likely to rip the flesh from your bone as greet you with a happy "good day." And if harnessed, these spirits in this hidden land of unmuffled screams and broken hearts would offer up a power so vast that its bearer might reorder the Earth itself to his liking.
As the Black and White Lodges become more prominent in the story, Major Briggs claims that during one or more of his disappearances, he had visited the White Lodge and goes on to offer advice regarding it. There is no clear evidence of him being affected by the Black Lodge and it is not clear how he arrives there, aside from a bright flash of light, or what the intentions of his trips were.
Location
Although the Red Room began exclusively as a location within Agent Cooper's dreams, the inhabitants began appearing in other locations in the town, inciting other elements in the plot, to the point where the Red Room and White/Black Lodge stories became one. After discovering a mysterious map in Owl Cave, it becomes evident to Earle and Cooper — both independently and with different motivations for wanting to visit it — that the entrance to the Black Lodge is located in Ghostwood Forest which surrounds the town of Twin Peaks, at a pool of a substance that smells like scorched engine oil and surrounded by 12 young sycamore trees. This area is known as GlastonburyGlastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
Grove.
It is said that the key to gain entrance to the Black Lodge is fear —usually an act of brutal murder. This is in contrast to the key to the White Lodge, which is love. Another requirement to enter the Black Lodge through the entrance in Glastonbury Grove is that it may only be entered "...when Jupiter and Saturn meet..." When the above requirements are met and one approaches the pool in Glastonbury Grove, red curtains appear, which the person walks between before the curtains vanish once again.
Interior
There is little furniture in the Red Room aside from a few chairs, a statue of Venus de MiloVenus de Milo
Aphrodite of Milos , better known as the Venus de Milo, is an ancient Greek statue and one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture. Created at some time between 130 and 100 BC, it is believed to depict Aphrodite the Greek goddess of love and beauty. It is a marble sculpture, slightly...
and there are no doors to speak of. The floor is a zig-zag pattern of black and white and every wall is covered with red curtains. In the final episode, we see a second room in the Lodge, identical to the first. Between the two rooms is a narrow corridor which has the same floor and "walls" as the other two rooms.
Inhabitants of the Lodge speak in a warped dialect of English and often speak in riddles and non-sequiturs. The main inhabitants of the Lodge are The Man from Another Place, The Giant
The Giant (Twin Peaks)
The Giant is a character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He is played by Carel Struycken.The Giant appears to FBI agent Dale Cooper in visions, first right after Cooper has been shot in his hotel room...
and Killer BOB.
In the final episode of Twin Peaks, Cooper meets the Man from Another Place
Man from another place
The Man from Another Place is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He is an inhabitant of the Black Lodge, a realm of pure evil. Early on in the series, The Man gives Agent Dale Cooper clues to apprehending The Man's nemesis, BOB...
, who refers to the Red Room as the "waiting room". This coincides with Hawk's claim that every spirit must pass through the Black Lodge on the way to perfection and that the Red Room leads to the White Lodge as well.
The red curtains, zig-zag floors and bright spotlights of the White and Black Lodges have also appeared in several of David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
's other films, suggesting that Lynch may view their influences as ongoing in his narrative worlds.
Inhabitants
The Black Lodge and White Lodge is home to many spirits and people alike including BOB, MIKEMike (Twin Peaks)
MIKE is a fictional character in the TV series Twin Peaks, portrayed by Al Strobel.-Character overview:MIKE is an inhabiting spirit similar to the series' primary villain, BOB, who was his partner in serial murder...
, The Man From Another Place, The Giant
The Giant (Twin Peaks)
The Giant is a character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He is played by Carel Struycken.The Giant appears to FBI agent Dale Cooper in visions, first right after Cooper has been shot in his hotel room...
, Laura Palmer
Laura Palmer
Laura Palmer is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. Her death was the catalyst for the events of the series...
(passing through the Red Room before ascending to the White Lodge), Chester Desmond, Phillip Jefferies and Dale Cooper. The spirits can take over humans: BOB possessed Leland Palmer
Leland Palmer
Leland Palmer is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He also appears in the prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me....
and later, Dale Cooper; The Giant possessed the elderly waiter from the Great Northern; and MIKE possessed Phillip Gerard.
Black Lodge (song)
Twin Peakss scoreFilm score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
conductor Angelo Badalamenti
Angelo Badalamenti
Angelo Badalamenti is an American composer, known for his movie soundtrack work for director David Lynch, notably Blue Velvet, the Twin Peaks saga and Mulholland Drive...
helped write the song "Black Lodge" on the 1993
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
Sound of White Noise
Sound of White Noise
Sound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 on Elektra Records. It is the band's first album with Armored Saint vocalist John Bush, and also their last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz.-Overview:The album, produced by...
album by Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
.
External links
- World of David Lynch - A Web Homage to David Lynch by Emmanuel Papillon. Features a virtual journey through the Black Lodge.
- Twin Peaks Mythology - Further Study of the Black Lodge