Suffer the Little Children

A detailed Summary of Suffer the Little Children

The undisputed "Master of Horror" Stephen King has always been known for writing stories that prey on his readers ordinary plausible fears. This is no exception with his story Suffer the Little Children. At first glance, this book resembles a diary of a madman. However, it is not what Miss Sidley does when she goes insane that is disturbing, but why she goes insane that makes this story memorable.

"She was graying, and the brace she wore to support her failing back was limned clearly against her print dress"(536). Miss Sidley was an old woman with a very distinguished career in teaching. Still, in her old age, she was the best at the game. Or so she thought. ". . . she reflected that the success of her long teaching career could be summed and checked and proven by this one everyday action: she could turn her back on her pupils with confidence"(536). Nothing you could do or say would convince her otherwise, she was old and set in her ways.

Upon first reading the story, I thought that the catalyst that drove her to the breaking point was a kid named Robert. His unruly juvenile behavior was that typical to a class clown, which all classes have. His constant smirking and gestures, when Miss Sidley was not looking, were re

Upon further analysis, however, it was the fact that there was a student in her class that she could not control that ultimately drove her nuts. As with Jane, all of her students were afraid of her--afraid to get caught by her watchful eye. The fact that Robert could care less if he got caught seemed to intimidate her.

The following scene, while horrible in its conclusion was basically academic. After nearly getting hit by a bus, her mind had totally lost grip of reality. She took it out on her students by assassinating twelve of them. She had been placed in a mental institution where she met a fellow professional, Buddy Jenkins.

Stephen King writes his stories with a dramatic realism absent in most horror, yet it's mixed with a fascinating bit of grotesque irony. In the case of Suffer the Little Children, he illustrates a woman's descent into insanity fueled by her sub-conscience fear of growing old. As with many of King's stories, she held on at all costs.

On the following day in class, she could feel their eyes burning a whole in her aching back. "Stop that! She told herself sternly. You're acting like a skittish girl just out of college!"(537). What an inconceivable thought. After all of her years of teaching she was feeling as skilled and nervous as her first day. Years of experience out the window.

The episode in the restroom took a toll on her back. The following day, "Miss Sidley kept Robert after school. He did nothing to warrant the punishment . . ."(539). He and his monster friends had scared the old lady into passing out. This was her only recourse. The only punishment she had would ultimately make her snap. While they spent time after school together, alone, she festered. It got the best of her again with another appearance of Robert, the monster. This time almost killing her.

After waking up, she saw the two girls giving her those ". . . we-have-a-secret smiles. . ."(539). To convince herself that she was not going crazy and she had not lost her skill, she realized that they were beasts, too. "She would keep their secret. For awhile. She would not have people thinking her insane .

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Approximate Word count = 1452
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English