Stephen King Fans discussion
2nd Round of King Books
>
RAGE- Book 4
date
newest »
newest »
I don’t see an unreliable narrator, either. I think what really happened was that King wanted to write a story railing against the establishment (great analysis, Nick) with a dash of Stockholm syndrome thrown in, but King’s always only had a thin understanding of psychology so he can’t always pull it off. The story, as written, doesn’t support the idea that the students would fall in line with Ted, so I think readers are trying to find a way for King’s weak writing to make sense.
Femmy wrote: "I have the Bachman Books edition from 1986 by Signet."Interesting.
In my copy it looks like cursive writing. I wonder if they accidently left off who the letter was from or it was a mistake?
Femmy wrote: "mrbooks wrote: "The thing you need to remember this is Charlies Narrative, It will only show Charlie is a good light. Charlie only concession to his failings is his stomach problems."Tim wrote: "..."
True to a point but there is no proof that what Charlie is say is the truth either. He has proven how easy it is to manipulate people. We saw it with the Principle the school psychologist and the sheriff. Charlie's form of control is secrets when he has a secret he is happy. Remember he is in a insane asylum so who's to say anything he is saying is true or just a piece of his warped imagination. "There was a saying that only a sane man would say he is crazy and only a crazy man would say he is sane. Something like that anyway, Catch 22"
I feel like the book gives us enough in its short length to show us Charlie isn't stable mentally. He has his own sort of logic sure, but that doesn't mean there isn't something wrong there.An argument can easily be made for Stockholm syndrome (just from the one student returning from the bathroom alone), I just can't buy it as an excuse alone myself. It's all too clean a transition for me between Charlie entering the room and everyone being fine with him and the situation. It makes me personally believe that while they may have suffered Stockholm in the end, Charlie very well may be telling events a big differently for his own favor.
It's a bit odd I must say, since I never thought I'd be finishing a King book and thinking to myself that it was too short and needed more to flesh it out. But that's pretty much where I land on this one.
Marc-Antoine wrote: "I don’t see how you can have a reliable narrator when you are only getting one side of the story, from someone who is obviously having a mental breakdown..."Yes, Charlie's having a mental breakdown, but I don't think that necessarily means that he can't remember the events correctly or that he lies about it.
Marc-Antoine wrote: "I also think that if the students did turn against Ted, it may have been for survival reasons, he is aggravating Charlie, and they would not want to set him off. Charlie would think that they are on his side, but they are just afraid of him, and want Ted to stop pushing him."That's an interesting view on the students' motivation. I just don't see it, but I think that's what's great about group reads. You get so many points of view about the book.
mrbooks wrote: "True to a point but there is no proof that what Charlie is say is the truth either."I think, personally, it's a tacit agreement between me and a fiction author. When I open a fiction book and start to read, I subconsciously think, "I know the story you're about to tell me is fiction and none of it really happened, but I'm going to suspend my disbelief and I'll care about the characters and pretend that what you're telling me is the truth."
I will only doubt the narrator if the author puts clues in the story that the narrator is unreliable (and that there might be another version of events). I just don't see those clues in Rage.
Femmy wrote: "Marc-Antoine wrote: "I don’t see how you can have a reliable narrator when you are only getting one side of the story, from someone who is obviously having a mental breakdown..."Yes, Charlie's ha..."
Well now that's the thing, I don't believe he is 'lying' about the events. I do think that what he describes is what he believes to be the truth. I just feel that due to his break from reality, he viewed it in a way all his own. Took quietness and shock as tacit approval for instance. Took a sharing of stories as a way to keep him distracted from potential violence as a mutual bearing of the soul. The fact that at least one person shows a seemingly clear sign of stockholm syndrom (and most likely did develop it) just helps cement his view in his mind.
There's really not enough substance in the book though to really support much at all when it comes down to it I think. Because of that ,it's fairly easy to take it all at face value for "what it says is what it means". Which while it could easily be the case, and it could just be a story railing against the establishment as has been suggested here (very possible) it just all feels a little too neat and clean for me to believe.
As a whole, I enjoyed Rage. Someone mentioned that Decker thinks he's cool, I didnt get that at all. To me he seemed very honest in his assessment of himself many times. For example he mentioned having dreams and being aroused and that these dreams weren't things to become aroused about. I actually felt some sympathy for Decker as a character, especially when we learn of what happens between him and his father at points. Forgive me, I may be overreaching, but this story remind me of Lord of the Flies. Now I'll admit I haven't read it in decades, but something about it and the way they "fell on him"/Ted at the end was a bit savage to me and made me think of Lord of the Flies. Although in this instance (Rage) they preyed upon the seemingly strongest of the bunch, who, in the end, turned out to be the weakest.
This also reminded me of a news article I read. I'll see if I can find the link.
https://www.yourtango.com/2017308542/...This chilled me when I read it. That seemingly normal people will do cruel things in certain situations.
Marlise wrote: "https://www.yourtango.com/2017308542/...This chilled me when I read it. That seemingly normal people will do cruel things in cert..."
Seems all too real to me, and terrifying.
book was too hard to find. out of print for decades.
Mike wrote: "book was too hard to find. out of print for decades."Find a copy of The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels (used copies or library). That’s the easiest way to read this. There were a lot of copies on Amazon and I have seen it at used bookstores.
Ok I am super late to this thing but I found this (and long walk) in a flea market today!!! Super excited to read both finally!
Wow you lucked out finding Rage in a flea market it is a very rare book now that it will never be printed again.
Stephen King Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels by Stephen King (other topics)The Red Tree (other topics)
The Girl on the Train (other topics)
Gone Girl (other topics)
I also think that if the students did turn against Ted, it may have been for survival reasons, he is aggravating Charlie, and they would not want to set him off. Charlie would think that they are on his side, but they are just afraid of him, and want Ted to stop pushing him.