# The Deformities of Rosemary's Baby in the Book (Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263 "2003-01-02T20:39:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/1 "2003-01-02T20:39:49Z")
Okay, in the movie they never showed you what Rosemary’s baby looked like. However, I’m pretty sure–but not positive–that author Ira Levin described the little tyke in the book. I know his eyes are like those of a feline from _Son of Rosemary_, which I’m currently reading, but I don’t know much else about the original condition of Satan’s Little Bundle of Joy. So what else was there? Horns? Tail? Fangs? I vaguely remember something about claws, but I’m not sure . . . As my copy of _Rosemary’s Baby_ has gone missing, your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and have a great day! ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/2 "2003-01-02T20:51:04Z")
It’s been years, but as I recall the “kindly couple next door” (who were actually part of the Satan-worshiping cabal) described the child as having “cute little horns.” That’s the only deformity I remember, but then my memory sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/3 "2003-01-02T20:51:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mephisto \* > \*\*I vaguely remember something about claws, but I’m not sure . . . \*\* The coven had put little booties on His hands so He wouldn’t scratch himself with His claws. Aside from that, and “He has His FATHER’S eyes!” Levin kept it pretty nebulous, as I recall. [sub]…did I really cap those aitches? Oh, what a giveaway.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/4 "2003-01-02T20:58:03Z")
p198ff (in no particular order) “tiny chin, small and rosy-faced … orange-red hair, a surprising amount of it … his eyes were golden-yellow, with neither whites nor irises … vertical black-slit pupils”. Odd feet and hands (“He has claws, but they’re very tiny and pearly”). Tail and horn buds present, but not described (“Go look at His hands,” Minnie said. “And His feet.” “And His tail,” Laura-Louise said. “And the buds of His horns,” Minnie said). ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/5 "2003-01-03T22:14:05Z")
Thanks! Rosemary’s baby has gone through some changes over the last thirty years. Your comments have given me a better understanding of exactly what those changes were. FWIW, the little guy now resembles many people’s image of Jesus Christ. At least most of the time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/6 "2003-01-03T22:54:43Z")
I finally got to see the end of that movie around halloween, and it really annoyed me that they didn’t even show the baby. The book ends with a description of the brat, so I figured they’d show him. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/7 "2003-01-03T23:21:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\* “He has His FATHER’S eyes!” > \*\* One of great movie lines of all time. And all I remember Rosemary saying was “what have you done with his eyes” Nothing about claws or horns. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/8 "2003-01-03T23:37:45Z")
Love the movie, haven’t read the book in 15 years. Best scene in the movie, IMHO, is when Laura-Louise give over the rocking of the cradle to Rosemary. Rosie passes L-L, who…_sticks her tongue out at her._ Cracks me up every time. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-deformities-of-rosemarys-baby-in-the-book-spoilers/146263/9 "2003-01-04T03:09:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mephisto \* > \*\*…_Son of Rosemary_, which I’m currently reading… \*\* When you’re done reading it, post what you thought about it. I’d be interested in hearing your opinion. I read the book several years ago.