Back in part 21 of the analysis, we began going over Graham's phone conversation with Lecktor, and we left off at the point where Lecktor says to Will, "We don't invent our natures, they're issued to us along with our lungs and pancreas and everything else. Why fight it?" We now return to the conversation:
When Lecktor says, "Why fight it?", Will in turn asks, "Fight what?" Lecktor responds, "Did you really feel so depressed after you shot Mr. Garrett Jacob Hobbs to death? I didn't know you then, but I think you probably did. But it wasn't the act that got you down, was it? Didn't you really feel so bad, because killing him felt so good? And why shouldn't it feel good?" Lecktor is making these statements to tap into the killer instinct within Will, and to re-enforce it by making its existence seem acceptable to Will.
Lecktor continues, "It [killing] must feel good to God. He does it all the time. God's terrific! He dropped a church roof on thirty-four of his worshipers last Wednesday night in Texas, while they were groveling through a hymn to His Majesty. Don't you think that felt good?" Lecktor is here enticing Will by suggesting that there is an act he can perform (killing), which will make him feel good. Will asks, "Why does it feel good, Dr. Lecktor?" Lecktor responds, "It feels good because God has power. And if one does what God does enough times, one will become as God is." This is the critical part of the conversation. At this point, Will moves the receiver away from his ear, and looks like he's thinking over something of great importance. He now sees that he can become as God is - he can become the Light (which as we said earlier, represents God, or God through Jesus). Will is getting close to believing that he can have the power of God.
In the next scene, Will 'tests' this idea when he makes another visit to the Leeds house, as detailed below.
Above left: When Will enters the Leeds' bedroom and positions his body such that he is facing the bed, he sees Mr. and Mrs. Leeds. Above right: Will next commences to 'float' toward the bed; this manner of movement, as visible from his own perspective, suggests that he believes he can be like Jesus, who performed miracles, such as walking over water.
While 'floating' toward the bed, Will speaks aloud, as if addressing Mrs. Leeds: "I see you there. And I see me desired by you. Accepted - and loved - in the silver mirrors of your eyes."
What's happening in this scene in the Leeds' bedroom is that Will believes he is beginning to acquire the power of God, i.e., power that Jesus himself would have. At the same time, Lecktor has manipulated Will's psyche such that Will will come to associate the power of God with the power to kill.
