Stones in My Passway, Hellhound on My Trail | Themes

Stones in My Passway, Hellhound on My Trail Themes

Determinism and Free Will

In "Stones in My Passway, Hellhound on My Trail," Boyle plays with the myth that when he was a young man, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil to be able to play the blues better than anyone else. The story' s title suggests that Robert is fighting a losing battle to avoid paying the devil his due. The hellhound, Cerberus in Greek mythology who guards the gates of the underworld, chases him while stones impede his escape route. In the story, Robert's destiny does seem predetermined, but Boyle suggests that Robert's self-destructive tendencies, rather than the devil, are the culprits. Ever since Robert started his career as a blues performer, he has figuratively placed stones in his own path. He continually misses recording dates and performances due to his penchant for alcohol and women. While clearly no one but Robert is controlling his destiny, Boyle questions how much...
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