Cindy R. answered • 04/21/22
A total bookworm who can't wait to share the magic of literature!
Hi there, Mariam! Thanks for reaching out!
Ah, Stephen King, the true "king" of horror writing! It can be tricky trying to find an overall meaning or genuine purpose when the story is full of spooky monsters and crazy plot twists, but all stories have their meaning if you look close enough!
If you are looking for the author's purpose, we can easily see that King's works have always been crafted to entertain his audience. Thankfully this story isn't factual (at least I certainly hope it will never be!), and he isn't explaining or informing the reader of anything, making entertaining the only "author's purpose" that would fit!
If we're considering more of a genuine meaning of the story itself, when I think of his short story Popsy, I can see how at first it can be hard to try to find any actual meaning, especially with how ridiculous it can be. I mean come on, kidnapping crimelords, gambling child stealers, and possible vampires?? It's such a wild read! But if we look at the story with more of a moral sense, things slowly start seeming a bit clearer. For context, Stephen King is a father himself, which at first is strange to think of with how often he puts children characters in danger, but when we see the outcome of the story, we can see how he tries to influence his readers into thinking of the importance of being a present parent. We can also see how the young child's constant references to his dear Popsy fail to deter the kidnapper, and how swiftly karma comes to deal with the unfortunate man. By seeing the story as more of a moral lesson, it can be a lot easier to try to find the meaning behind it, no matter how crazy the story may be!
Hope this helps!
