Leiden University Student Repository

Griffijn, Emma 2018

"A Little Hope Never Hurt Anybody": Political Assassination, Education, and Love in Stephen King's The Dead Zone (1979) and 11/22/63 (2011)

Master thesis | Literary Studies (MA)

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This thesis provides a close reading of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone (1979) and 11/22/63 (2011) and suggests that both novels can be regarded as historical novels. This thesis presents an overview...Show moreThis thesis provides a close reading of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone (1979) and 11/22/63 (2011) and suggests that both novels can be regarded as historical novels. This thesis presents an overview of the key historical events and figures of the respective time periods in which the novels are set. The Dead Zone is set during the 1970s and 11/22/63 is set during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Both time periode are represented negatively. The Dead Zone explores the feeling of distrust that the American citizens experienced after Richard Nixon’s Watergate Scandal and the Vietnam War. 11/22/63 shows the flipside to JFK’s hopeful image and the optimistic 1960s. Ultimately, I will show that despite the negative representation of America in the 1960s and 1970s, there is hope for the characters in these novels which enables them to survive and to find peace. The Dead Zone and 11/22/63 contain a hopeful message which is represented through education and love. This hopeful message does not only represent hope for the characters of the novel, but also for the readers of these historical novels, who can find guidance in working through historical events such as the Vietnam War, 11/22/63 and the Watergate Scandal.Show less