First of all, if I haven't said it before, let me just say it again...This book rocks. Every single time I read it, it gives me the same goosebumps, and the same sick feeling in my stomach as it steamrolls towards its climax. I forced myself to stop reading just a few minutes ago, right before the moment when the pig's blood comes showering down. From that point in the book, I always like to read straight on until the end without stopping, because of the momentum of the suspense. And unfortunately, I won't have time to do that until tomorrow.
But for the moment, I would like to reflect on something else.
I have never been the kind of person to put much stock in organized religion. Mostly, because they always kind of scared me (don't get me wrong, I have some beliefs, but they don't really fall into any particular religion). It's the whole "mob mentality" of it all. When it comes to growing up with religion, my mother is Jewish and my father is Presbyterian. When they divorced they decided that they were going to expose us kids to both religions, but not force either one on us. After awhile I just kind of shied away from both, because I didn't really relate with either one. As I continued to grow up, I came into contact with people of all kinds of different beliefs and religions. Some were beautiful...and some not so much. Unfortunately, the people who seemed to use their religion for uplifting, good purposes were the minority. And the majority of the people who were the most vocal about their religious beliefs, also seem to be the ones who treat people the worst, have the most prejudice, or use their beliefs as excuses to hate.
I think that this is why the character of Margaret White (Carrie's mother) is such a terrifying and unforgettable one. She may seem way over the top, and unreal after a first glance, but if you really think about it, chances are that you can probably name at least one person you have enountered that's not far off.
Now, let me stop to say that I do not feel that all religious people are like this, by any means. I know plenty of devout people who are wonderful and accepting human beings, who would not hurt a fly. I only wish there were more people like that who crossed my path.
Well, anyway, that's my two cents for now. I'll write again when I finish the book, hopefully tomorrow. (And then we can watch the two movie versions...yay!)
But for the moment, I would like to reflect on something else.
I have never been the kind of person to put much stock in organized religion. Mostly, because they always kind of scared me (don't get me wrong, I have some beliefs, but they don't really fall into any particular religion). It's the whole "mob mentality" of it all. When it comes to growing up with religion, my mother is Jewish and my father is Presbyterian. When they divorced they decided that they were going to expose us kids to both religions, but not force either one on us. After awhile I just kind of shied away from both, because I didn't really relate with either one. As I continued to grow up, I came into contact with people of all kinds of different beliefs and religions. Some were beautiful...and some not so much. Unfortunately, the people who seemed to use their religion for uplifting, good purposes were the minority. And the majority of the people who were the most vocal about their religious beliefs, also seem to be the ones who treat people the worst, have the most prejudice, or use their beliefs as excuses to hate.
I think that this is why the character of Margaret White (Carrie's mother) is such a terrifying and unforgettable one. She may seem way over the top, and unreal after a first glance, but if you really think about it, chances are that you can probably name at least one person you have enountered that's not far off.
Now, let me stop to say that I do not feel that all religious people are like this, by any means. I know plenty of devout people who are wonderful and accepting human beings, who would not hurt a fly. I only wish there were more people like that who crossed my path.
Well, anyway, that's my two cents for now. I'll write again when I finish the book, hopefully tomorrow. (And then we can watch the two movie versions...yay!)
I have some comments on the book as a whole that I’d like to get to also, but I thought I might say something about this post.
ReplyDeleteI’d go a little farther than you as far as belief; I have no religious beliefs and am (to all intents and purposes) an atheist. If anyone (or anything) is able to give me some hard evidence that their god is true, I’m willing to say I’m wrong, though.
I’d go along with you on saying that some religious people are good, and some are not – just like some non-religious people are good, some are not. It seems to me that people pick and choose their beliefs (or, more accurately, only recognize those beliefs) that fit their worldview. Thus, those that proclaim their belief loudly and try to force their views on others are not recognizing those strictures that say things like “Go into the closet to pray” or “Judge not lest ye be judged” or “An it harm none, do as thou wilt” (for all the Wiccans out there). In other words, people don’t reflect their beliefs, their beliefs reflect them.
Margaret White is batsh*t crazy. Her religious beliefs reflect that, and don’t necessarily drive that. I have had the good fortune to miss out on knowing any psychotic people, so I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone that comes close to Margaret. Most people haven’t. Margaret herself recognized, in her dim way, that no organized religion fit her view either. That’s why she quit all the churches.
So my take on Margaret is that, although she is the most overtly religious person in the book (and maybe in all of King’s writings), her character is not really a reflection on religion.
Here’s a “religious” question for you: In this, and in other King stories, a “meek” person “inherits the earth” (gains power). When that happens, do they stay meek? I would say that King proves himself quite a cynic because they don’t remain meek. Desjardin and Sue Snell recognize that they have wielded their “power” wrongly. Does Carrie?
What an awesome and insightful post, Jerry. I totally agree about Margaret White, and maybe insinuating that people like her are commonplace was overstated. And I agree that her religious mania was born from her madness, and not the other way around. In my opinion, it still falls back in line with what I was saying about how some of these religious maniacs use their religions to serve their own purposes (whether knowingly or not). Margaret White did not consider herself insane, and having a fundamentalist husband and belief system to buy into allowed her (and those around her) to continue to not have to examine her mental state.
ReplyDeleteAbout your other question: It does make you wonder how often the "vindicated" victim really does consider the moral ramifications of how they weild their power. And even worse, how does society at large view it? At first glance, you want to cheer for the vindicated in the name of "justice". But if you consider how many other innocent people suffer and burn along with Carrie's tormentors, then you stop cheering for her as much. When Carrie snaps, and brings the whole town to ruins, she ceases to be just a person. She becomes a vengeful god. And in most religions, gods do spend a lot of time reigning down destruction on innocent people.
So, in a lot of ways, the "meek" not only inherit power, but they end up becoming something more than human. We tend to stop moralizing as much when a human is no longer considered human (i.e. vampire, alien, possessed...esentially "gods and monsters") I think that this theme is common in several SK novels/stories.