THEMES 

                                     


                         Stephen King's horror story Misery is a deeply psychological study of a tormented, psychopathic person, Annie Wilkes. Because of Misery is a psychological story, it teaches lots of themes like obsessive love Annie has for Paul; fame and what being famous can cost you (crazy fans, "number one fan"); irony of being dependent on someone to keep you alive, who could potentially kill you; delusional love for a fictional character, isolation and desperation. Now I will discuss the two of these themes I've given.


                      One of these themes is crazy fans and the risks of being famous. Paul Sheldon's worldwide fame caused the conflicts in the story. He is the author of the best-selling series and everyone knows about especially one of his series called Misery. Also Annie have heard about that and have read all of the novels of Misery. Than she called herself  his "number one fan", she loved him because he had created Misery Chastain and breathed life into her as she said in page 8; "You're good. I knew you must be good. No one bad could create Misery Chastain and breathe life into her.". Also she called her pig Misery. She obsessed her life with Misery Chastain like she is Misery's herself; she is happy when Misery is happy, when she learned that Misery died, she screamed she couldn't be dead and damaged everything. Then the main conflict began. So if Paul wasn't a world-famous writer,  she wouldn't trouble and torture him. Fame has risks like that and more.


                Now, I will explain being dependent on someone who could potentially kill you. Annie threatens him to kill him and herself if he rejects writing the book. Paul didn't have enough power to save himself from her or run away. And he needs her for drug and food. If he tried to kill her and succeeded (90% he wouldn't succeed and  be killed), there wouldn't be anyone to give him food etc. to keep him alive. So he is completely dependent on her. The main conflict is this theme, I think. He had no choice. If he had an alternative, the story wouldn't develop like it.


              To sum up these two themes formed the conflicts and the story itself. So they are really important. The negative conditions formed by them.