The Dark Figure?

[Cell1408]

I finished The Long Walk and it was a great, great book. There was just one thing that bugged me. Who is The Dark Figure at the end of the book??? Is it Peter McVries? Did he just go insane? I think it was Peter McVries but then again it could be something else. Tell me what you think or what you know about The Dark Figure. Thanks.

[Pucker]

I've always felt that Garraty's body survived the Walk, but his mind did not. The Walk consumed him and there was nothing left for him outside of it. His ordeal had reduced his existence to one simple thing -- putting one foot in front of the other in order to survive -- so when there was nobody left to "walk down," his mind created an opponent so he had a reason to keep going. Some people think the "dark figure" represents death, but it seems to me that, by giving Garraty a reason to keep going, the dark figure actually represents life . . . or, at least, all that was left of life for Ray Garraty.

[GNTLGNT]

The older I get, thye more I think it's another avatar of the one known as "The Walkin' Dude"...

[Silhouette86]

I thought that it was some man hired by the guy that ran "The Long Walk" to execute the winner. Is that far fetched?

[Cognac]

i always thought it was flagg

[Anna Rose]

when i read about after he sees the figure, i automatically thought of jan...i dont think thats what it is but that is the only thing that i think would give him the energy to run