Carrie By Stephen King Character Analysis

Characteristics of an Outsider

Growing up can be difficult. During teenage years, peers can make or break a person’s sense of self. Proper parenting can steer them in the right direction, while lack of adult support can make them feel rejected. This often leads to a teenager to feeling like an outsider. In Stephen King 's “Carrie”, Carrie is a teenage outsider. In a critique by Michael R. Collings, he expresses his opinions on the contributing factors that led to Carrie being an outsider. In Stephen King 's Carrie it is shown that the main character, Carrie, is shunned by her peers, experiences poor parenting, and has no adult support. These views are supported and expanded upon in a critique called, Stephen King, CARRIE -- A Retro-review,

Generally speaking, in high schools the principals, teachers, and guidance counselors are supposed to help students in need. Everyone knew Carrie was being tormented but no one helped when they should have. The critique suggests that the adults don’t care about Carrie in the slightest, making them no better than her peers. “Adults in Carrie also set the stage for adults to come. Without exception, they are a distanced, vague, or dangerous. Mr. Morton’s job is to understand and aid students; but while he can lecture Billy deLois and Henry Trennant from rote memory, he is entirely incapable of grasping even the smallest truth about Carrie. Miss Desjardin approaches the level of sympathy, but her first response to Carrie’s initial terror in the shower is in almost overwhelming desire to shake some sense into the girl” (Collings). Specifically it declares that the adults at Carrie’s school have no respect or support for her. “Miss Desjardin employed the standard tactic for hysterics: she slapped Carrie smartly across the face. She hardly would have admitted the pleasure the act gave her, and she certainly would have denied that she regarded Carrie as a fat, whiny bag of lard” (King, 12). The adults in carries life could have helped correct the awful situation that Carrie was in. However they had little respect or interest in a girl they believe is odd. This allowed her peers to continue their