Innocence Lost as a Recurring Motif in Stephen King’s Horror

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of a particular recurring motif in Stephen King's novels, which is identified as innocence lost. The contributions of the writer in the horror genre are analyzed in order to emphasize the important role he plays in dictating essential norms and principles of this type of literature. It is argued that King is extensively focused on the possibilities of developing a prose emphasizing simplistic fears and people's abilities to address those fears. In addition, the paper provides adequate definition of horror in light of other genres, emotions, and experience of fear. The implications of innocence are discussed in relation to particular philosophical and social assumptions introduced by other writers and thinkers. A thorough analysis of King's It is provided in an attempt to demonstrate the unique way in which the writer describes the relevance of fears in individuals' lives. Another novel which is extensively discussed in the present paper is Needful Things, as the researcher focuses on the combination of horror and innocence which is uniquely blended by King. The third novel in which the mentioned elements emerge is identified as The Long Walk. This novel is also dominated by essential psychological aspects contributing to the distinct tone and structure of the text. A recurring motif in King's prose, based on the respective three novels, is referred to as the persistent distortion of reality. This component, mixed with fear, adds to different interpretations of King's major texts. Horror is mixed with some of the most delicate feelings of individuals, as indicated in the respective research paper. The major conclusions presented in the paper are derived from both primary and secondary sources, with the idea to expand people's perspectives on the significance of Stephen King as a horror writer.