Stephen King Carrie Character Analysis

The classic 1976 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel Carrie overlaps and intersects themes typical of the high school genre such as sexuality, bullying, loneliness, angst, and rebellion with supernatural elements, family dysfunctionality, and religion. As a result of the abuse Carrie White is subjected to by her religious and extremist mother Margaret, she is victimized by her peers and authority figures, and when she finally lashes out, she becomes a monster. Therefore, Carrie’s monstrosity was created by her mother. The monstrous element, according to Wells, “… is usually an interrogation of the amorphous nature of evil, or an address of the limits of the human condition; physically, emotionally, and psychologically.” Carrie’s outburst is the result of her reaching the limit of abuse she is willing to accept. Because of her superhuman abilities, the last straw for her represents dire consequences for those around her.
Carrie’s downfall occurs just as she is breaking from the norms and lifestyle imposed upon her. With womanhood and her telekinesis, comes also a profound resentment towards her abusive mother. Turned into an outsider by her fanatical and domineering mother, Carrie begins resisting her when despite her piousness, she is still “punished” for her sins

However, it can be inferred that she has never been completely subdued, which is why Margaret must resort to corporal punishment and imprisonment to discipline her. Wells writes: “… the double was essentially the way in which the soul or ego sought to preserve itself, ensuring against destruction by replicating itself.” Carrie sees a window to cease being “Creepy Carrie”, Margaret White’s daughter, and start becoming Carrie White, the sensitive high school student with