Exploring Repressed Desires and Their Effects on the Emergence of Varied Kinds of Violence in the Selected Novels of Stephen King [PP: 44-49] Dr

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Exploring Repressed Desires and Their Effects on the Emergence of Varied Kinds of Violence in the Selected Novels of Stephen King [PP: 44-49] Dr. Hoda Shabrang Department of English Language and Literature, Khatam University Tehran, Iran Mohsen Amely (Corresponding Author) Department of English Language and Literature, Khatam University Tehran, Iran ABSTRACT This research provides a psychological review of Stephen King's Misery and The Dark Half based on Slavoj Zizek's ideas of violence and its veiled dimensions. In this investigation, the issue of encountering violence promptly and abominating all kinds of violence in the actions of human beings as well as commiserating with victims have been scrutinized. There are diversified critical assumptions to the statement of what psychology is considerably worth applying to the works of Stephen King who has gained achievements as a gothic author and who has paid attention to unconscious gothic components and psychotic characters. It can be argued that these two novels reveal the doctrine of violence which is the result of dualism and failure in attaining interior desires as explained in Slavoj Zizek's conceptions: subjective and objective violence (symbolic and systematic violence). For the reason that Stephen King is referred to as a gothic novelist, this research will concentrate on the leading characters' psyches in two of his most thrilling novels to determine if the author's ideas keep in line with the definition of psyche and unconscious are effective in the representation of violence, trepidation, affliction, torment and madness and of the protagonists in Stephen King's Misery and The Dark Half. As a theorist and a philosopher, Zizek emphasizes on the doctrine of violence and its effects on changing the mood and on carrying out frenetic activities. Consequently, it is being explored that unfulfilled intrinsic and intellectual desires in the real world and truly the potential uncertainties of mental demands and the unfulfillment of these desires in the real world, novel's characters as well as individuals can cause violence in the society. Keywords: Psychoanalytical Criticism, Slavoj Zizek, Subjective violence, Stephen King, Gothic Elements ARTICLE The paper received on Reviewed on Accepted after revisions on INFO 13/05/2020 20/06/2020 05/01/2021 Suggested citation: Shabrang, H. & Amely, M. (2020). Exploring Repressed Desires and Their Effects on the Emergence of Varied Kinds of Violence in the Selected Novels of Stephen King. International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies. 8(4). 44-49.

1. Introduction expedition under the pen name of Bachman. One of the most experienced Therefore, King's novels include how to American gothic writers who has found depict the emotions of hope intermingled much success in gothic literature in the 21st with his own personal incidents and century is Stephen king (September 21, horrifying elements. He keeps using clear 1947). His style in writing was the usage of imagery which is set in a realistic place as “author characters" as protagonists in the well as symbols and unique characterization. novels such as Paul Sheldon who is the main King looks for unifying and exploring gothic character in Misery, as well as Thad elements with strong significances of Beaumont in The Dark Half. Stephen King psychological analysis. The gothic novels wrote several books under a pseudonym, have been included the images of shadowy, Richard Bachman. Darkness and cynical retaliation, agony as well as hereditary atmosphere were the main characteristics of secrets. The role they play in the formation Bachman novels rather than the of individuality and psychological impacts psychological gothic style common in many on the mind is very notable. Stephen King is of King's famous works. He wrote The Dark an author who helps the development of Half which is about an author with an modern horror fiction. He is best known for ominous leechlike twin in response to his “the father of horror" in literature. He wrote

Exploring Repressed Desires and Their Effects on the Emergence of Varied … Hoda Shabrang & Mohsen Amely

contentious novels, which deal with the This article tries to debate these illustrations of different personalities under questions and find an appropriate result in the impact of unfulfilled desires of the order to solve one of the major problems protagonists. Many important elements such with which human beings are contending as blood, wound, gothic components, 2. Approach and Methodology trepidation, and affliction are to be analyzed The method chosen to demonstrate in the works of Stephen King for which he is how unfulfilled repressed desires of best known. But the most important one is individuals can cause violence in the real the various psychological notions world as well as society emphasized by the recommended in this study which can be theory of subjective and objective violence extended to the society in the real world as in Stephen King's Misery and The Dark Half well. This research strives to investigate as a valid study. One of the Stephen King's King's novels on grounds of components main themes is the quarrel between the such as horror, torment, violence relied on individual and the hidden personalities which the society formed its norms. In which are shown in the dual personalities of Misery and The Dark Half uniformities can Misery's Annie Wilkes as well as The Dark be seen between Slavoj Zizek and Stephen Half's Thad Beaumont. The sudden change King. Both suggest the concept of violence in the mood of the characters means as a and its impacts on the society as well as the contradiction of heartlessness in the relationship between savagery and veiled captivation the reader and victim feel toward layers of social structures. So Zizek's the very power that threatens them (Spector, doctrines of violence are to be discussed in 1984). Violence as it indeed becomes King's selected novels to see how this discernible in realistic conditions is about renowned author keeps in line with modern the interlacing of humankind sensations of tendencies in his main characters and social fright, fury, and agitation in such a manner structures. The central issue that the current that cross exactly the traditional ethics of study is going to investigate is to see how usual status. It is merely this surprising and King delineates the conventions of violence abrupt trait of violence as it in fact provides (subjective violence and objective one) in hint to the sentimental ever changing at the his novels. It is obvious that the conception core of the assumption of violence (Collins, of violence is regarded as an idea which is 2008, p. 4). compelled by social systems. People believe that violence is the King's novels according to gothic manifestation of our animality, bursting elements such as terror and torment strive to when learned cultural regulations failed. indicate the concept of " dualism " which the Violence is also viewed to be the gist of society scrimmage with it in a large scale on devil; it is the paradigm system produces of account of the unfulfilled desires of depravity. Nevertheless, the review of individuals that sabotage the entire being of violent actions and habits throughout the society. What distinguishes King from cultures and within history demonstrates his companions in the field of gothic only the contrary when people wound or literature is the belief that lack of murder somebody; they commonly achieve consummating human wishes can bring this goal because they believe they have to. dualism in characters' personalities, which They believe that it is ethically correct or raise problems for the individuals even compulsory to be violent. In addition, (Hitchcock, 2014, pp. 7-10). the impulses for violence broadly develop Therefore, repressed desires can out of a linkage between the culprit and the cause violence in the social-familial victim. The criminal is brutal to make the structures. So the mere solution is paying relation proper_ to make the connection much more attention to these desires in order what it should be based on his or her cultural to have a dynamic, healthy as well as appliances of worldwide kindred righteous unwearied society. Regarding to the major tenets. That is, most violence is ethically notions of violence (subjective and objective prompted. Integrity is about controlling ones) by Slavoj Zizek, the following societal relations, and violence is one questions are debatable in the Stephen method to manage relations. King’s selected novels: In lieu of encountering violence How do Misery and The Dark Half immediately, Zizek’s recent book forms six depict subjective and objective violence? sideways views. There are causes exploring How does the process of violence the matter of violence. The fundamental reveal itself in the diabolic characters of the assumption is that there is something novels? essentially enigmatic in a direct struggle

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International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies (www.eltsjournal.org) ISSN:2308-5460 Volume: 08 Issue: 04 October-December, 2020 with it: the compelling fear of violent sterling authors in the category of horror actions and compassion with the victims fiction. Critics like Anthony Magistrale, relentlessly act as a temptation, which additionally accept the truth that King impedes us from thinking. A disinterested establishes the mere literary offspring theoretical growth of the classification of dropped from the writers such as Edgar violence have to overlook its painful effects. Allan Poe and Howard Philips Lovecraft Moreover, there is a perception in which an (Magistrale, March 1992, p. 27). aloof scrutiny of violence somehow Works of horror are organized to duplicates and contributes in its fright. At evoke a certain kind of influence. Violence the same time, the evident signs of violence is always distinguished as the impressment are actions of malefaction and horror, social of physical force so as to wound, and the upheaval, universal combat. word usually represents drastic human Zizek has been elected for the devastation of belongings or injury to intention of this research because of his individuals, usually intentional and forceful main idea on the expansion of frequent ideas verbal abuse that injures others (Valentic, of violence, which means “subjective pp. 1-5).The introduction for language and violence" which reflects the intentional use formal rejection of violence are often of power to impose on trauma or on human understood as two dimensions of one and the beings wound towards social injustice as a same characteristic: "speaking is the bedrock systematic violence (Zizek, August 2008, and structure of socialization and it is to be pp. 11-12). In this article violence towards distinguished by the abandonment of human beings especially for social purposes violence." In a particular social context, all is explored. Psychological pressure, intense correlations with others can be regarded as a paltriness and intimidation as well as balance of forces; and injustice is a result of different types of torture are the influential a lack of harmony of forces in which the elements in creating violence (Van der weaker is tyrannized and oppressed by the Linden, January 15, pp. 3-7). Zizek stronger. The aim is to create a balance in expresses violence by noting, “when we which everyone's rights are respected; it think about violence we tend to think about follows the action for justice (Muller, 2002, criminal acts, acts of terror, civil unrest and pp. 23-25). war." On his account if we wish to 3. Discussion understand violence, we must refuse the The intention of this study is to read 'fascinating lure' of this type of subjective Stephen King's Misery and The Dark Half as violence that is "violence performed by a well as to plumb human being's psyche and clearly recognizable agent" and we must his or her unfulfilled desires and psychic look at the violence in the background that constitute and how the concept of violence generates subjective violence, which is and its divisions influence the main called objective kind of violence (Zizek, characters in those selected novels. As a August 2008, pp. 9-11). Objective violence gothic novelist, telling stories of horror is a kind of violence which is unseen since it genres, Stephen King's beliefs, both suffers the zero level standard against which psychoanalytic and otherwise, can be seen we comprehend something as subjectively through the main characters he produces. As violent. This sort of violence is divided into the relations between the characters indicate, two categories: "symbolic violence" which he does believe that the characters can reflects the violence embodied in language emphasize on the stories from the others' and its forms and "systematic violence" perspective. Because of the capabilities of which points to the catastrophic outcomes of King's works in depicting psychological economic systems or injustice in order to disorders, Zizek's notions of subjective and evaluate the differences between systematic objective violence can function as violence and subjective violence which is appropriate hypothetical background to too easily adopted in the society but the negotiate their relationships in question. social roots of violence are often ignored Therefore, a large amount of the significance (Zizek, August 2008, pp. 12-15). Zizek of this scrutiny emerges from the harmony asserts, “It is difficult to be really violent; to between King and Zizek that can bestow perform an act that violently disturbs the upon a deeper recognition of both. Reviews basic parameters of social life" (Zizek, of Stephen King's Misery and The Dark Half August 2008, pp. 205-209). concentrated on trepidation, psychological Stephen King is a novelist who disorders, physical tortures and categorized undoubtedly refers to a temple of multiple it as both narrative and gothic fundament.

Cite this article as: Shabrang, H. & Amely, M. (2020). Exploring Repressed Desires and Their Effects on the Emergence of Varied Kinds of Violence in the Selected Novels of Stephen King. International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies. 8(4). 44-49. Page | 46

Exploring Repressed Desires and Their Effects on the Emergence of Varied … Hoda Shabrang & Mohsen Amely

On a deeper level, the researcher hopes to terminates when the ache menaces to uncover King's narration of psychopath demolish the individual's integrity and purity characters through a study of horrifying (Cassel, 1982, p. 640). Torture is a political forms he exploits within his works and how rite that happens in the developing countries they interact with lines of psychoanalytical to an ever-growing scale (Agger, 1991, p. theories. In particular, King's novels 142). “it is part of ' the liturgy of (especially, Misery and The Dark Half) lend punishment', and shall satisfy two themselves to a discussion and analysis of requirements: to mark and dishonor its prey, psyche and problematic backgrounds. King's and to have an intimidating influence." novels often represent the psychotic (Foucault, 1977, p. 35). The significance of characters in both zenith moments and this study according to the methodology of extemporary actions. The lack of stability in Slavoj Zizek is to explore that the unfulfilled the character's personality and psychological intrinsic desires of the novels' protagonists disorders as well as the sense of horror, as well as the real world's individuals that violence, torture and torment are highlighted will lead to violent behaviors. Therefore, in in these novels. The supreme purpose of this case of creating conditions in which article is to use Zizek's critical view for repressed desires of the individuals whether novels to show the complexities of in the fictional world or the real world from psychological problems and more their childhood to the youth are fulfilled importantly, the concept of violence that is correctly and positively, it is not to be revealed through different types of tortures witnessed such ill and violent behaviors in (Harris, August 2004, pp. 199-200). Torture the novels as well as extensive level of is among the repulsion of human revelations, society. any action by which harsh, hurt or torment, Misery seems an appropriate novel for whether bodily or psychologically is psychoanalytical study for its use of deliberately imposed on an individual for psychopath character as a central element to such intentions as gaining from him or an scrutinize the psychological problems within absentee information or a declaration, the baleful characters. When the heroine pushing him for an action he has done or demands failed, she tries to show her true threatening, or compelling or for whatever personality. This novel reveals dualism in reason in accordance with discernment of the personality of the protagonist and her any sort where such ache or torment is mental disorders. So it is great to say that imposed by or at the abetment of or with the Misery is categorized as a gothic as well as agreement or compliance of a public formal psychological kind of novel. However, capability. The chief target of torture is not King's The Dark Half also chooses to always to oblige the prey to squeal and indicate the darkness behind the real supply information; it is to disintegrate the character which leads to a catastrophic identity of the prey. The wound consists in outcome and results in the unfulfillment of the devastation of the personality (Elsass, the desires of the protagonist of this 1997, pp. 2-10) outstanding novel. These novels have a Violence is a manner that has little or suitable content in which dualism and no equivalent. Exists in the dens, couple of mental disorders are revealed properly. hundred thousand years ago, it has endured Hoppenstand and Browne in "The every individual's community's effort to Horror of it all: Stephen King of the annihilate it. As a whole, violence is hostile American Nightmare", call Misery, "a thinly manner with the purpose to provoke injury unclear contemplation of the thousands and (bodily or mentally). The word purpose is desires of his proponents and his writing essential; bodily or mentally harm that style of his works" (13). However, Misery is happens inadvertently, in the deficit of also a psychological gothic story without the purpose, is not violence. Violence does not metaphysical-a dreadful narration of the merely "appear" in the healthy grownups; it reality of everyday life, of oppressed fears, is an adult ethological disorder that is of suffering, annoyance, solitariness, dander advanced by distressed manners during and anxiety, mental disease, psychological childhood (Denno , 1990, p. 85). Cassel state and fragmentation (96). (1982) mentions in a scrutiny of the quality Torture is differentiated from other of suffering that it achieves its peak what it harsh harrowing conditions by depicting an threatens to liquefy the individual's honesty. excessive form of violation of both Even if the suffering is rooted in physical psychological and physical character and by ache, it is the mental element which is the an unambiguous target in a particular effective kernel of the suffering and which situation. Torture is aimed to people and

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International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies (www.eltsjournal.org) ISSN:2308-5460 Volume: 08 Issue: 04 October-December, 2020 groups with a special goal of causing harm, consciousness has felt a new reality as he obliging conformity and ruining political stays wounded and sick-abed in the bedroom desire, roughly in the deficiency of war of Annie Wilkes’s house in Sidewinder, (Sominier. F and Genefke, I, 1986). Colorado. Primarily, his delight mainly Slavoj Zizek's Violence: Big Ideas / reflected his “agony”, “confusion” and Small Books, argues understanding violence “alleviation” as truth (King, Misery, 1988, p. (subjective and objective violence) and its 7). manifestation in the society, especially Paul began to be familiar more and related to social interests, subjective more with Annie Wilkes and with the violence refers to violence that is performed developing cognition of her; he was able to by an individual mostly criminal actions or control how he should behave towards her. terrorism. Therefore, objective one has no He was dissolving her hideous reality clear culprit and neglected in the because Annie did not protect him from her background of subjective violence. For animosity. Finally, Annie’s torments grew example, the branch of systematic violence more austere when she became furious. For which is categorized in the objective instance, when she fed him from the bucket violence, is the sign which is revealed that had water used after cleaning the wall, through the language of the protagonists of to which soup was splashed out of Annie’s the selected novels. Zizek refers to different furious. Paul knew Annie and recognized kinds of violence, which are depicted and something about her that aided him to plan perceived in the social circumstances (Zizek, his flee and in order to victoriously do so, he August 2008, pp. 9-11). Zizek distinguishes had to handle his demand of revealing his between those two kinds of violence in the pain. Furthermore, the tortures that he had context of state violence, social agitations tolerated were the manifestation of the and practice of tolerance and language itself Zizek’s concept of subjective and objective as a sign of liberal thought (Zizek, August (symbolic) violence depicting through the 2008, pp. 15-20). role of the protagonist. On the other hand, Zizek presents a deeper challenge to these tortures resulted in the unfulfilled the norm that many realize and compel us to desires of Annie Wilkes, which were shown determine what kind of relation his work has via suffering the victim (subjective to the standard form and ordinary conditions violence), and insults in the utterances of her of the society that sustains them. Zizek has (symbolic violence). arrived at the conclusion that no ethical act Psychopath individuals have can be strictly guaranteed by existing fact completely lost connection to reality and and the ethical act must require a breaking impute aggressive ideas and purposes to the of existing fact (Galt Harpham, Spring 2013, other people. These issues are continuously pp. 467-469). doubtful and cynical, sensitized to scorn, As it was mentioned before, the aim of with an inclination to assign malevolent this article is to show the relationship purposes, they do not forget a snub and between mental disorders which are always await for struggle and attack other originated in the unfulfilled desires of the people in the society. Therefore, the characters and their violent actions during manifestation of this kind of violence within their lifetime. This linkage is a unique and the social groups is related to Zizek’s perceivable issue, which lead human beings subcategory of objective violence: to brutal punishments, murder, trepidation, “systematic violence”. Individuals with this torture. This article attempts to depict the disorder (mental illness) attack alone and manifestation of mental disorder through may do violent actions against other people, violence whether in the fictional world or as well as crimes against racism, which the real world. If language is a manifestation leads to social anarchy and chaos. Violence of a person’s unconscious psyche, Misery is in psychopath people is perhaps on the quite a reliable source to perceive the extreme. It is a kind of violence, which is unconscious assumptions of the famous related to lack of emotions towards other novelist, Paul Sheldon, who is abandoned people. For them, violence is emerged from far from home by his number one proponent, their unfulfilled desires during their lifetime, the Dragon Lady. Similar to most of King’s which lead to aggressions, as they are fictions, he exploits a limited omniscient reacting to the fictional world of their narrator that gives us all information about unconscious psyche, and irrational desires. Paul’s ideas; with the ones that are silent in Therefore, their actions in the real world are italic form. Additionally, Paul’s unexpected and accordingly temperamental.

Exploring Repressed Desires and Their Effects on the Emergence of Varied … Hoda Shabrang & Mohsen Amely

4. Conclusion References In both Misery and The Dark Half, Agger, I. (1991). The Power of Shame: the author-protagonist experiences Testimony of Exiled Women. difficulties, which influences the manner Copenhagen. through which they act appropriately. The Cassel, E. (1982). The Nature of Suffering and leading characters closely involved in the the Goals of Medicine. New England Journal of Medicine II, 639-45. demonstration of these difficulties, Annie Collins, R. (2008). Violence: A Micro- Wilkes and George Stark, behave in ways sociological Theory. New Jersey: that destroy Paul and Thad’s sense of self- Princeton University Press. confidence. Therefore, Paul and Thad, Denno , D. (1990). Biology and Violence: from authors snared by their own textual birth to adulthood. New York: New composition, also suffer from another York. Cambridge University Press. entrapment: a trap within the psyche. Elsass, P. (1997). Treating Victims of Torture Astutely toying with the concept of the death and Violence: Theoritical, Cross- of the writer and the Gothic duple, Stephen cultural, and Clinical Implications. New King produces protagonists so realistic and York: New York University. extremely profoundly linked to him that they Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Copenhagen: are particularly more non-fiction than Rhodos. Copenhagen. fiction. King’s specific usage of the Gothic Galt Harpham, J. (Spring 2013). Doing the duple relates his main characters to real life Impossible: Slavoj Zizek at The End of and world. Knowledge Critical Inquiry (Vol. 22). These famous novels demonstrate Harris, S. (2004). End of Faith. London. the impact of the unfulfilled desires on Hitchcock, A. (2014). A Dark Mirror Duality changing the mood and doing frenetic and Reflections in Stephen King's activities of the individuals. These novels Writers. Waco Texas: Baylor show dualism and psychological disorder in University. the personalities of the main characters. Hoppenstand, Gray and Ray B Browne. (1987). Violence occurs in the universe The Horror of It All: Stephen King and The Landscape of the American around us. In a terrifying way, Zizek asserts Nightmare. The Gothic World of that, “In the time it takes you to read this Stephen King. Bouling Green: Popular paragraph, ten children will die of hunger” Press. (Zizek, August 2008, p. 7). The events in the King, S. (1988). Misery. London: New English two novels are the external aspect of what Library. Slavoj Zizek believes as violence which King, S. (1990). The Dark Half. London: New means the conceptions of horror, trepidation, English Library. affliction, torture and torment according to Magistrale, T. (March 1992). The Dark Descent: which the hidden personalities of the human Essays Defining Stephen King's beings being affected. Gradually, Annie Horrorscape. Praeger. Wilkes' or George Stark's unfulfilled desires Muller, J.-M. (2002). Non-Violence in Education. UNESCO. lead to madness, torture and violence. Sominier. F and Genefke, I. (1986). Therefore, characters are trapped in the ill- Psychoterapy for Victims of Torture. performed psyche and psychological British Journal of Psychiatry, 49, 323- disorders, which also cause them to act 29. inappropriately in the society. The Spector, R. (1984). The English Gothic. Green protagonists of the novels: Annie Wilkes Wood, Westport. and George Stark both got stuck in the Valentic, T. (n.d.). Symbolic Violence and irrational demands and desires which cause Global Capitalism. 2, 1-5. them to torture their victims and to act Van der Linden, H. (January 15). On the madly in the society. So if the intrinsic Violence of Systematic Violence: A desires remain unfulfilled, there is no escape Critique of Slavoj Zizek. (Radical Philosophy Review), 33-51. from the society in which torture, violence, Zizek, S. (August 2008). Violence: Six Sideways trepidation and torment are done violently Reflections. Big Ideas / Small Books. and eternally. Therefore, the mere solution is London, Great Britain: First Picador to pay close attention to the demands and Edition. attempt to fulfill them on the basis of the norms of the society. Accordingly, this study strives to show how the claim support effective understanding of the research problem.

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