Suffer the Little Children

             The undisputed "Master of Horror" Stephen King has always been known for writing stories that prey on his readers ordinary plausible fears. This is no exception with his story Suffer the Little Children. At first glance, this book resembles a diary of a madman. However, it is not what Miss Sidley does when she goes insane that is disturbing, but why she goes insane that makes this story memorable.
             "She was graying, and the brace she wore to support her failing back was limned clearly against her print dress"(536). Miss Sidley was an old woman with a very distinguished career in teaching. Still, in her old age, she was the best at the game. Or so she thought. ". . . she reflected that the success of her long teaching career could be summed and checked and proven by this one everyday action: she could turn her back on her pupils with confidence"(536). Nothing you could do or say would convince her otherwise, she was old and set in her ways.
             Upon first reading the story, I thought that the catalyst that drove her to the breaking point was a kid named Robert. His unruly juvenile behavior was that typical to a class clown, which all classes have. His constant smirking and gestures, when Miss Sidley was not looking, were reflected by her glasses into her sub-conscience. His subsequently guilty demeanor and blank stares when she made eye contact led her to believe that he was up to something.
             Upon further analysis, however, it was the fact that there was a student in her class that she could not control that ultimately drove her nuts. As with Jane, all of her students were afraid of her--afraid to get caught by her watchful eye. The fact that Robert could care less if he got caught seemed to intimidate her.
             "Miss Sidley was suddenly, unaccountably sure Robert knew about her little trick with the glasses"(536). Was she slipping? None of her pupils had ever noticed her glas...

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Suffer the Little Children. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 09:38, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/71583.html