Annie Wilkes

Annie Wilkes emerges as one of Stephen King’s most intriguing and multifaceted characters, a villain both unique and archetypal. She is described as "overweight," yet she carries an imposing physical presence that is "big" rather than simply fat. Her nature is a contradictory blend of maternal and androgynous traits. Annie possesses formidable physical strength, demonstrated by her ability to kill a police officer with a riding lawnmower, yet she has an odd prissiness about language, often using phrases such as “cockadoodie” and “dirty birdie.” These peculiar expressions reveal her desire to maintain a veneer of propriety and correctness.

Despite her self-perception as a nurturing caregiver, Annie’s mental instability and inherent selfishness prevent her from truly caring for anyone, including Paul Sheldon, the author behind her cherished Misery. Paul sees her through his writer’s lens as a primordial goddess, life-giving yet elemental and cruel, akin to a stone African idol that exudes a powerful, primal presence.

King skillfully unveils Annie’s character through her own words and actions, as well as through Paul Sheldon’s empathetic understanding, a writer’s intuition heightened by his precarious dependence on her unpredictable moods. Her scrapbook serves as a window into her psyche, revealing her as both terrifying and reprehensible, yet pitiable in some respects. Annie’s voyage from being a menacing figure edged with pity to an embodiment of sheer horror underscores her complexity and the intensity of her twisted devotion, which spirals into torture and maiming.

In Paul’s perception, Annie becomes as primal and overpowering as a goddess, with her euphemisms morphing into potent curses that instill dread. As the narrative progresses and secondary characters appear, they are potential victims of Annie’s murderous inclinations, emphasizing her relentless and dangerous nature. The rescue of Paul by two police officers—whom he dubs David and Goliath—marks the climax of this intense confrontation with the goddess-like Annie Wilkes.

Paul Sheldon

Paul Sheldon serves as the conduit through which Stephen King channels the novel’s experiences, evolving from an idealist into a survivor. A renowned writer from New York, he ventures to the isolation of rural Colorado to craft the book he truly desires, stepping away from the romance genre in hopes that his serious, carefully crafted novel, Fast Cars, will garner critical acclaim. However, his fateful interaction with Annie Wilkes profoundly transforms his perception of writing. After being rescued from a car accident only to be imprisoned by Annie, Paul’s understanding of his craft shifts. He comes to realize that for a writer, the act of writing transcends the quest for critical recognition; it is an intrinsic drive.

Paul’s character is richly fleshed out through his tribulations and the internal metamorphoses he undergoes under Annie’s dominion. Initially helpless, he becomes reliant on Annie’s nursing proficiency and remarkable strength for survival, akin to a newborn. His humanity is convincingly portrayed; he is a man weakened by injuries and a dependency on painkillers, with a history of two divorces and a smoking habit curbed by Annie’s refusal to supply cigarettes. Despite these vulnerabilities, Paul emerges as a hero, echoing the resilience of Andy Dufresne from King’s “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” His steadfastness, patience, and ability to wield his writing skills to outmaneuver his captor elevate him to this heroic stature.

Paul’s empowerment is a gradual journey, paralleling his physical recovery and leveraging his gift as a writer to entrap Annie in the narratives he spins. This evolving power dynamic is central to the narrative, mirroring Paul’s path of self-discovery and mastery over his circumstances. Traits that once embarrassed Paul’s mother, such as his creative imagination, his humor kept hidden from...