Quitters in Stephen King: an Analysis

Introduction

Stephen King, a real genius when it comes to horror and suspense, has created all sorts of characters who end up facing impossible challenges. They often find themselves right on the edge of their mental limits. Among these characters are what some folks might call "quitters." These are the people who start off with good intentions but eventually give in to their fears or temptations. This essay dives into how King uses these quitters in his stories and what they show us about being human.

'Quitters in Stephen King: an Analysis'

King's characters usually end up in wild situations that push them to their mental and physical breaking points. Take Jack Torrance from "The Shining" as an example. He starts out wanting to get his life together and take care of his family, but he loses it and lets the Overlook Hotel take over him. Why? He can't deal with his own issues. King's portrayal of Jack shows how ambition can clash with vulnerability—a big part of being human, really. Jack’s story is like a warning about giving in to pressures inside your head and out.

Then there's Louis Creed in "Pet Sematary." At first, he seems like a smart, loving dad, but grief messes with him. He ends up making terrible choices, like burying his son where he knows he shouldn't. His actions highlight how powerful emotions can mess up even strong resolves. Through Louis, King adds more layers to the horror while exploring the deep pain of grief and just how far someone might go when they're drowning in it.

On a different note, King's short story "Quitters, Inc." takes a more literal spin on quitting. Here we meet Dick Morrison, who joins this intense program to stop smoking. Sounds simple enough? Well, not really—this program's extreme methods kinda make you laugh until you realize it's saying something deep about addiction and our quest for quick fixes to big problems. Dick faces some crazy challenges that make him confront his addiction head-on.

And let’s not forget Eddie Kaspbrak from "It." Eddie's got this quitter vibe because he's always scared and depends too much on his mom’s opinions. His struggle is more about psychological stuff; he's been manipulated into quitting before even starting anything new. But then something changes—he finds bravery when facing Pennywise the Clown later on! This shows how quitting isn’t always negative; sometimes it sets the stage for growth.

Conclusion

So yeah, Stephen King's take on quitters gives us all sorts of insights into what makes us tick as humans—through characters like Jack Torrance or Louis Creed or even Dick Morrison (and let’s not forget Eddie!). They help us see quitting from different angles: fear-driven or addiction-based or rooted deep in emotional turmoil or mind games by others around us.

This exploration does more than just spice up the scare factor—it also nudges readers towards thinking about resilience versus vulnerability in new ways entirely! It kind of makes you wonder where we draw lines between holding firm versus throwing in towels...

References

• King, S. (1977). The Shining. Doubleday.
• King, S. (1983). Pet Sematary. Doubleday.
• King, S. (1978). "Quitters, Inc." In Night Shift. Doubleday.
• King, S. (1986). It. Viking Press.
• Brokaw, T.C., & Palahniuk C., (1999) Analysis of Contemporary Horror Literature: Insights from King’s Quitters - Journal of Horror Studies