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dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I remember the story for 30 years since I read this novel. I remember the San Gabriel and Jackson County High School shootings and their "association" to this novel and the societal outrage that followed, causing Stephen King to let this novel go out of print. But it is still an excellent novel that explores the psychological elements of the mental deterioration of the mentally ill.
The Disturbed Mind of Charlie Decker?
In Charlie Decker's mind, a "storm of rage" brewed, fueled by years of bullying and family dysfunction. His mother over protected him, making him emotionally vulnerable to his father who was consumed with making him a "man". It was his father that caused him to lose faith in humanity especially as Charlie no longer saw adults as caring individuals. When his teacher, Mrs. Underwood, became condescending it upsets Charlie and he has to redirect his attention to calm himself.
"Shall I lend you my thesaurus?" Mrs. Underwood asked, smiling alertly. My stomach began to hurt a little, my breakfast started to move around a little, so I looked back at the squirrel for a while.
He is scarred by years of neglect and violence at home, hurt by every cruel word he has endured leading to a perception of "injustice" and fury against all that he perceived had wronged him.
Bachman writes Charlie's mental deterioration very well, all through the narrative we see multiple identities, the main character, the narrator, the hero, the villain, the protagonist, the antagonist. But unlike previous literary works, there is no ambiguity, Charlie is insane (he is deemed so by the court of law), yet in his own mind he is sane.. But is he?
"Two years ago. To the best of my recollection, that was about the time I started to lose my mind."
Charlie Decker is intelligent but in his own mind he believes there are hidden agendas in the intentions of others (thus why he is fixated on Ted, he can't figure him out). He is an outcast, but he does have an intuitive ability for seeing the world differently to others. He wants to be seen as someone not to be trifled with, wary of crossing his path (the corduroy suit episode). Charlie's skepticism is not born out of cynicism, but rather from a lifetime of being misunderstood and marginalized. It is a defense mechanism, a way to shield himself from the pain.
Maybe, we the readers, see his assumptions as a sign of paranoia, but to Charlie, he sees them as a survival instinct. He sees a world where selfishness and deceit run rampant, so it was essential for him to stay one step ahead. The really sad thing about this novel is that in a way he is the voice for the voiceless, a champion for the marginalized, a beacon of hope for those who felt invisible. In a world where the marginalized are often silenced, Charlie's resonates with those who had long been overlooked.
The disturbed mind of Charlie Decker is no longer content with mere thoughts and fantasies, he takes action. As the situation escalates, Charlie and his classmates reveal their own traumas. Each revelation shows vulnerability, yet there are elements of laughter, and by doing this Bachman shows healing within the destruction. As they share their secrets, a kinship, or a fragile alliance if you prefer, emerges among the captives, a bit of respite from the tension Charlie has created. But as Charlie watches this abnormal therapy session, he realizes the power he wields over his classmates, in a way his presence both unites and divides them.
It is a sobering realization that everyone bears some kind of burden, one that forces him to question his motives and the true extent of his own pain. With this moment of clarity a little glimmer of humanity emerges, his rage has waned, he realized that the path he had chosen may lead to his own downfall.
Stephen King's "Carrie" V Richard Bachman's "Rage"
Bullying is the crux of both stories and today this is a more serious problem with cyberbullying making a person feel shame, hurt, or blatantly disrespected, than it was in 1970's. Both novels remind us of the fragile balance in the teenage psyche. Carrie (Carietta) White was not evil nor was she crazy she just wanted to be accepted. Whereas Charlie Decker is portrayed as a downward spiral into madness due to his inability to become accepted, but is he "evil"? Both were pushed too far by their peers as well as their parents with horrendous outcomes. But the "body count" for Carrie outweighs those of Charlie.
Stephen King has a compact writing style, whereas Richard Bachman is haphazard, with more darkness (which emphasizes the haphazard thoughts of Charlie's disturbed mind). Stephen King's narratives often intertwine horror with glimmers of hope. In contrast, Richard Bachman's works are deeper in the despair element with an absence of redemption. Richard Bachman writes this novel based in the real world, no supernatural/magic elements, no monsters/aliens, no psychological powers, etc., it's more brutal. But therein lies the difference, the "supernatural element" brings a sense of disbelief thus more acceptance, whereas "Rage" is reality.
The history of publication of "Rage" exemplifies how one action can shape societal reactions resulting in passive censorship. When anger is amplified, it dictates the narrative overlooking the complexities of the issue at hand and that issue is bullying. Both novels explore the consequences of ignoring the societal problem and when reality hits it is easier to "blame the book". If Carrie White didn't have telekinetic powers, but instead picked up a gun, would "Carrie" be "censored"? Does gender of the character change society perception of reaction of being "pushed too far"?
Some may think that "Bachman was imitating King". That to me increases the genius element of Stephen King's writing, he never wrote them to keep the publishers off his back, quite the opposite, he wrote them, but his publishers didn't want to flood the market with his "name".
"That's the end. I have to turn off the light now. Good night."