Imagining the Worst: Stephen King and the Representation of Women

Stephen King has been hailed as a writer of the late 20th century Everyman, yet his representations of women remain debatable. These essays not only explore his portrayal of female characters, they illuminate Stephen King’s own psychology and that of our culture’s fears, anxieties, and feminine obsessions. The various works examined include Carrie, Gerald’s Game, Rose Madder, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Dolores Claiborne, It, Christine, and Misery. The essays progress through various discussions of female power versus male authority, the association of female with evil, and King’s monster imagery associated with the mother-figure characters. Written by various scholars and professors, these essays offer rare insight into the treatment of the female characters of Stephen King’s imagination.

The works of Stephen King are as popular as they are contested. Delineated by his precise commentary on the late 20th century culture, and most notably American culture, his horror fiction strikes a more specific, personal note with readers. These essays tap into the feminine aspect of King’s social commentary. Concentrating on his treatment of female characters, these essays explore Stephen King’s exposure of the fears, anxieties, and obsessions concerning the female and feminine that our culture harbors. The numerous works analyzed in this book provide a comprehensive study of King’s treatment of the feminine, and what it implies about our culture and Stephen King.