Introduction
Cujo is a horror novel by the American author Stephen King, published in 1981. It is one of King’s most controversial and criticized works, as it features a realistic and tragic story of a rabid dog that terrorizes a small town in Maine. The novel tells the story of three families: the Trentons, who have moved from New York to Castle Rock; the Cambers, who own Cujo, a friendly Saint Bernard; and the Sharpes, who are involved in a shady business deal with the Trentons. The novel explores themes such as fear, violence, fate, and family. My overall evaluation of the book is that it is a tense and terrifying read, with a simple but effective plot, sympathetic characters, and a bleak atmosphere. However, it also has some flaws, such as a slow pace, a lack of supernatural elements, and a depressing ending.
Summary
The novel begins with Cujo, who chases a rabbit into a hole, where he is bitten by a rabid bat. He slowly becomes infected with the disease, which makes him aggressive and violent. He kills his owner, Joe Camber, and his neighbor, Gary Pervier, who try to help him. He also traps Donna Trenton, a young mother who is having an affair, and her son, Tad, who is afraid of monsters, in their car, which breaks down near the Cambers’ house. They are unable to escape or call for help, as Cujo attacks anyone who comes near them. They also suffer from dehydration, heat, and hunger, as they are stuck in the car for several days.
The novel then shifts to the perspective of Vic Trenton, Donna’s husband, who is unaware of her affair and his family’s predicament. He is a successful advertising executive, who is dealing with a crisis involving a cereal campaign that has caused a mass poisoning. He also suspects that someone is trying to sabotage his business, and he learns that it is Steve Kemp, Donna’s lover, who is angry and jealous. He decides to return to Castle Rock, where he hopes to save his marriage and his career.
The novel also follows the perspective of Roger Breakstone, a state trooper, who is investigating the disappearance of Joe Camber and Gary Pervier. He finds their bodies, and he also discovers Cujo and the Trentons’ car. He tries to rescue Donna and Tad, but he is killed by Cujo, who also wounds Donna. Donna manages to kill Cujo with a baseball bat, and she frees herself and Tad, who has stopped breathing. She performs CPR on him, and he revives. Vic arrives at the scene, and he reunites with his wife and son. He also learns that Donna has killed Steve Kemp, who had broken into their house and vandalized it.
The novel ends with the Trentons, who have survived the ordeal but are traumatized and scarred. They also learn that Tad has developed a fear of the dark and that Donna has contracted rabies from Cujo. They decide to move away from Castle Rock and try to rebuild their lives.
Critique
The strengths of the book are many, such as:
The writing style: King’s prose is clear, concise, and compelling, creating a sense of urgency and suspense. He also uses various techniques, such as foreshadowing, irony, symbolism, and metafiction, to enrich the narrative and explore different layers and meanings.
The structure: The novel’s structure, which alternates between the perspectives of the Trentons, the Cambers, the Sharpes, and the Breakstone, creates a contrast and a connection between the different characters, showing how they are affected by Cujo and their own problems. It also builds up the tension and the mystery, as the reader wonders how the story will end and who will survive.
The tone: The novel’s tone is dark, tense, and horrifying, reflecting the nature of Cujo and his actions. However, it also has moments of humor, sarcasm, and hope, especially in the scenes involving the Trentons and their family. The tone balances the horror and the drama, making the reader empathize with the characters and their emotions.
The credibility: The novel’s credibility is enhanced by the realistic and detailed portrayal of Cujo and his disease, as well as the characters and their situations. King draws from his own experiences and influences, such as his fear of dogs, his car accident, and his addiction to alcohol, to create believable and complex characters that have motives, backgrounds, and personalities. He also depicts the psychological and physical effects of fear, violence, and isolation, showing how they affect the characters and their actions.
The originality: The novel’s originality lies in its concept and execution, as it creates a unique and terrifying scenario that involves a rabid dog that terrorizes a small town. The novel also introduces one of the most iconic and memorable villains in literature, Cujo, who is a tragic and sympathetic antagonist who is not evil, but sick.
The relevance: The novel’s relevance is evident in its exploration of universal and timeless themes, such as fear, violence, fate, and family. The novel also addresses social and personal issues, such as infidelity, divorce, business, and addiction, showing how they affect the characters and society. The novel also resonates with contemporary culture, as it has inspired numerous adaptations and references in media, such as the 1983 film, the 2019 video game Blair Witch, and the 2020 TV series The Stand.
The weaknesses of the book are few, but significant, such as:
The pace: The novel’s pace, which is slow and steady, can be boring and tedious for some readers, especially those who are used to King’s faster and more action-packed works. The novel also contains some scenes and passages that are redundant, irrelevant, or excessive, such as the descriptions of the cereal campaign, the car repair, and the baseball game. The novel could have been shorter and tighter, without losing its essence and impact.
The lack of supernatural elements: The novel’s lack of supernatural elements, which is a departure from King’s usual style and genre, can be disappointing and unsatisfying for some readers, especially those who are looking for more fantasy and horror. The novel also lacks the typical King’s trademarks, such as the connections to his other works, the references to his influences, and the appearances of his recurring characters. The novel could have been more creative and diverse, without losing its realism and simplicity.
The ending: The novel’s ending, which is the culmination and resolution of the story, can be depressing and heartbreaking for some readers, especially those who are looking for a happy and hopeful outcome. The ending involves the death of Cujo, Roger, and Tad, and the survival of Donna, Vic, and Steve, but it also leaves some loose ends and unanswered questions, such as Donna’s affair and infection, Vic’s career and marriage, and Steve’s fate and motive, among others, which are not only unresolved, but also unexplored and unexplained. The ending could have been more conclusive and satisfying, without losing its ambiguity and complexity.
Comments
Post a Comment