Misery Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 7 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Misery.

Misery Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 7 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Misery.
This section contains 267 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the Misery Short Guide

Misery Summary & Study Guide Description

Misery Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. This study guide contains the following sections:

This detailed literature summary also contains Related Titles on Misery by Stephen King.

Preview of Misery Summary:

Misery is primarily a psychological thriller; its growing horror comes not only from graphic maiming, but also from its close relationship to reality. A major theme is "reasonableness" of madness. Annie is clearly cunning and crafty, in spite of—or because of—her paranoid delusions. Paul, the captive writer, must learn to be a little selfdeluding to understand and anticipate Annie's actions and to write his best novel under her tremendous coercion.

The boundary line between reason and madness constantly shifts throughout the novel.

Paul's struggle to survive could be described as a battle of wits and pain.

He gives his struggle with Annie and his novel the name, "Can you?": a game of storytelling that he played as a child. Throughout his ordeal he repeats the question as a prayer. That process goads him to survive, because he habitually responds, "Yes, I can."

Ultimately, the...

This section contains 267 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the Misery Short Guide
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Misery from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.