Georgetown University
The university where Blatty learned of the real exorcism that inspired his novel.
Georgetown University is the Washington, D.C., university where author William Peter Blatty was a student in the class of 1950, and where he first heard about the 1949 case of supposed demonic possession and exorcism that inspired his novel. The novel takes place near the campus of Georgetown University, making the university a key geographical anchor for the story. Chris MacNeil, a famous actress, rents a house in Georgetown while filming a movie, and her daughter Regan lives with her there. The university's presence establishes a setting of academic normalcy that contrasts with the supernatural horror that unfolds in the neighborhood.
Quick Facts
- Key resident
- Chris MacNeil
- Associated character
- Regan MacNeil
Lore & Background
Georgetown University's role in the Exorcist universe is rooted in its real-world connection to the novel's inspiration. Blatty, a student in the class of 1950, heard about the 1949 case of supposed demonic possession and exorcism while at Georgetown. This directly led to the novel being set in Washington, D.C., near the campus. The university itself does not appear as an active participant in the exorcism; rather, it serves as the geographical and intellectual backdrop.
The MacNeil home is in Georgetown, and local disturbances occur at Holy Trinity Church. Detective Kinderman investigates Father Karras, and they exchange stories about Black Masses and Catholic theology. The university represents the rational, academic world that Chris MacNeil initially relies upon, but it offers no answers for Regan's condition. The doctors and specialists she consults are products of such academic rigor, yet they are powerless against the demonic entity.
Reader's Guide
Georgetown University functions as the primary secular setting for the MacNeil family's life before the tragedy strikes. It is an institution of higher learning with no formal rules regarding possession or supernatural defense; its influence is purely environmental and social. The university does not have a specific hierarchy dealing with demons, nor does it employ exorcists. Instead, its key members are faculty and students who represent the rational worldview that Chris MacNeil initially relies upon.
This reliance on academic logic delays the recognition of the spiritual nature of Regan's affliction. Its influence on the protagonists is indirect but profound. By establishing a setting of intellectualism and normalcy, Georgetown heightens the horror when those norms are violated. The transition from the safety of this academic environment to the chaos of the possession marks the beginning of Chris's desperate journey toward faith.
Did You Know?
- The novel takes place in Washington, D.C., near the campus of Georgetown University, directly because of Blatty's connection to the school.
- Blatty's inspiration for the character of Father Merrin included the British archaeologist Gerald Lankester Harding, whom Blatty had met in Beirut.
More in Organizations & Groups
Elsewhere in The Exorcist
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