The beast, or monster, is a chimericentity sometimes depicted as a literal presence, and other times as a symbolic one. On a physical level, the beast enters Zampanò’s world, as evidenced by the claw marks on the floor. Johnny also reports sensing and at times seeing the beast—a creature that brings with it a terrible stench that induces nausea in Johnny. The men in the hallway experience the beast as well. They hear a growl, and Jed refers to “the heaviness which always seemed to him to be crouching, ready to spring, just a few feet away” (118). Tom refers to the beast as Mr. Monster, and also notes its growl, though never sees it.

Renditions of the beast may also appear Chad and Daisy’s drawings, where they depict “marauding creatures” like a wolf, a tiger, or a dragon (313). These animals also come up in the Appendices. Finally, the beast could refer to the Minotaur, a mythical creature imprisoned in a maze.

Separately, the beast may refer to various characters in House of Leaves. Johnny’s foster father, Raymond, may be the beast, and Johnny describes Raymond as “cornering [him] like some beast in the stairwell” (324). Johnny himself may be the beast, and Raymond often calls him such.