Subsoil By Nile T. Milner

Why in the world did he just walk into that room? That’s a very common question, though locations may vary, that people ask themselves while watching a scary movie. The most frustrating part about it is seeing multiple characters walk into the hands of death, even though their gut instinct told them to run away. Though absurd, people often times shoot themselves in the feet. In Nicholson Baker’s short story Subsoil, the main character does exactly that. Nile T. Milner, an agricultural historian, suffered an unlikely death at the tubers of killer potatoes. Nile T. Milner’s inability to overcome his fear of confrontation, stemming from his reluctance to heed to his instincts, proved to be his major flaw, resulting in his tragic death which should

serve as a lesson to always one’s instincts.
Milner demonstrates his inability to overcome his fear of confrontation from the very beginning of the story.

In the face of an easy-fix, Milner “decided that for his visit…. stay someplace else,” instead of kindly asking the manager to not use the air freshener, which did fit his “preference for unflavored air” (533). At first glance it is easy to think of it as a nice gesture on his part, because his stated goal was not to hurt her or maker her regret her past actions. Really, though, that was clearly not the problem. Rather, he was afraid that by asking her not keep using air freshener, she would turn on him and lose interest in his research. Milner, soon after, is again unable to confront a seemingly irritated Bill Fipton. Milner was taken aback by “Bill, who had been quite friendly to Nyle on earlier visits,” who was acting as if he was feeling indignant on that particular visit (533). It is apparent that Milner does not recognize that the source of Fipton’s behavior was not his fault, and fails to inquire further into the matter. Fipton’s uneasiness stems from the subject of the Taits’, which seem to be formidable figures in the town. Milner’s reluctance to inquire further into the matter plays into his

problems.
Ominous circumstances instinctively cause alarms to go off in every sensible human being because they are a source of fear.

Milner consistently disregards warnings on the road like he did with Fipton’s parting words. Fipton’s warning was as clear as water, being that the parting advice was that Milner needed to “keep an eye open,” there because he had “heard some stories,” (534). Milner feared that digging deeper into the situation would cause him to have to option but to stay at the usual motel, which he did not want. Going against his instincts, Milner disregards Fipton’s advice. Similarly, Milner ignored the warning that Mrs. Tait’s dreadful aura gave off. He felt “no need to bring up matters of ménage with the somewhat intimidating Mrs. Tait” (535). It is undeniable that Milner fears Mrs. Tait, as he bluntly admits that she is intimidating. Furthermore, he belittles the situation to convince himself that it was not necessary to ask her for the location of the pillows. Any guest in a bed and breakfast would ask their host for such a trivial thing out of courtesy, but Milner did not because he feared Mrs. Tait. Milner, though obviously alarmed by her presence, takes no action that will make their paths cross. It wasn’t until too late that Milner started to realize that his instincts were on to

something.
Milner finds himself in unnerving situations in which he is very capable of finding a way out, but his fear does not allow him to. Milner senses something is very wrong at the dinner table with the Taits. There was a “sense of vague unease,” in the room (537). This is an instinctive sensation, very much a warning from his own mind and body. He is pressured into eating the strange soup cooked up by Mrs. Tait, but he could have easily and politely rejected the meal. Milner’s instincts told him this was the right thing to do, yet he does not follow them because of the intimidating presence of both Mr. and Mrs. Tait.