Joyce Carol Oates, a writer renowned for her incisive exploration of human experience, once articulated in a Chicago Tribune Book World article that her work revolves around a singular focus: "I am concerned with only one thing: the moral and social conditions of my generation." Her vast body of work often delves into the minutiae of everyday existence, painting a vivid picture of reality while simultaneously revealing the unsettling forces simmering beneath the surface. Among her characters, Gretchen serves as a poignant illustration of this theme. Engaged in what she calls an imaginary stalking game, Gretchen's interactions with her "Invisible Adversary" take on an ominous tone, highlighting a chilling absence of empathy and emotional connection. This detachment transforms Gretchen into something akin to a mechanical predator, relentlessly pursuing her target. Through Gretchen, Oates deftly exposes the potential for darkness within the human psyche, urging readers to confront the latent moral and social issues that pervade their own lives.

The concept of an Adversary has deep roots in spiritual and psychological realms, often representing the embodiment of opposition or temptation. In the context of scripture, Satan is frequently labeled as the Adversary, a term that resonates in narratives where the protagonist faces a shadowy antagonist. This symbolism is crucial in stories where the Adversary is more abstract, representing inner turmoil rather than an external entity.

In such narratives, the Adversary can become a projection of an individual's psychological struggles. Take, for instance, the character of Gretchen, who navigates a gritty suburban landscape characterized by "a jumbled, bulldozed field of mud," "no sidewalks," and "gigantic concrete pipes." These stark images mirror her internal chaos. The Adversary she perceives is not an external force but a reflection of her own inner conflict—a psychological projection of her need to feel something amidst mundanity.

Gretchen, rather than being pursued, is the one who engages in actions of petty rebellion: committing minor thefts, vandalizing property, and leaving traces of her passage through the mud with her scuffed boots. Her actions, seemingly driven by an insidious and relentless urge, echo the menace of a stalking presence. Yet, the true menace lies within her own psyche, suggesting her latent potential for more profound destruction.

This internal adversary—marked by undefined malaise and simmering anger—hints at an ominous future fraught with greater consequences. It is this undercurrent of potential devastation that underscores the gripping terror within the narrative, reflecting how psychological projection can morph into destructive actions when left unchecked.

Gretchen exists in a world starkly devoid of human connection, where even in a bustling department store, her own mother fails to notice her presence. Her interactions with others, when they occur, are marked by an unsettling physical aggression. In the gym class, she charges forward with heavy steps, sometimes colliding with other girls, inflicting unintended harm. At the mall, when a boy from a group accidentally bumps into her, she retaliates not with words, but by angrily overturning a trash can onto the sidewalk without so much as a glance back.

Critics frequently highlight the omnipresent violence in Joyce Carol Oates’s narratives. However, Oates's portrayal of violence is not overtly graphic; rather, it unfolds subtly, creating a more haunting impact. In "Stalking," the incident where the Adversary is struck by a car is depicted with restraint. What truly captivates is Gretchen’s psychological response to the event—a disturbing sense of satisfaction and an alarming absence of empathy. The Adversary, a figment of her own imagination, reflects the tumult of her psyche. Yet, her disavowal of this symbolic creation reveals the depths of her emotional void, leaving her isolated from any vestiges of human emotion.