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As you may know, Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s ruler and dictator, died last Saturday December 17 died while inside a train on his way to give field guidance. According to news reports, the North Korean people were in pain after hearing reports that their leader has dead due to an “advanced acute myocardial infarction, complicated with a serious heart shock."
What is the impact of Kim Jong-il’s death for student of history?
Impact of Kim Jong-il’s death
Historically, the situation in North Korea has always been a very delicate situation. Because of its insistence on developing nuclear weapons and atomic bombs, it had received sanctions from the United Nations. Technically, it has isolated itself from the family of nations. Economically, North Korea has also been suffering from the years of mismanagement under Kim Jong-il’s leadership. The focus on military development is draining is resources causing most of its people to suffer from poverty.
With the death of Kim Jong-il the situation in North Korea has become even more volatile. Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il’s son, has been tapped by his late father to assume the leadership role. Though he is described to have intelligence and leadership abilities, he does not have the experience that his father was able to enjoy before he assumed the highest post in North Korea. His father did not have the time to groom him as North Korea’s next great leader. He has also not been able to secure a power base that is loyal to him.
As a result, there is now an uncertainty as to the how much support he can get from the ruling elite and the military. Could a power struggle follow? Is it possible for other military leaders to take the position away from Kim-Jong-un?
To be able to establish his own reputation and credentials and get the support of the ruling elite, some political analysts say that it is possible that he may feel it necessary to state a crisis and show North Korea’s military strength. Is an attack on South Korea imminent? Based on this scenario, South Korea has started to alert its military about a possible attack.
Another immediate impact of Kim Jong-il’s death is the decline in South Korea’s currency which dropped by 1.8% and stock index which dropped as much as 5% as against the US dollar which gained. According to financial analyst the uncertainty will continue in a matter of two to three days until the succession in the leadership in North Korea has become clear.
It is undeniable that experience is still the best teacher. Perhaps nobody would argue against the importance of past experiences to our present and future. Experience serves as a light that illuminates our dark path and guides us to making correct decisions. The importance of having a vast experience is more significant in war. It bears stressing that the lessons learned by a young soldier from military schools would pale in comparison to lessons that he will learn in actual battle. Indeed experience when used well gives a decisive edge in war.
It is therefore important for a country to be able to learn from the mistakes that it has committed in the past so as to avoid making the same mistakes. It must be emphasized that a mistake in military tactics is crucial as it could lead to the death of young soldiers who have decided to risk their lives in their attempt to represent and fight for their country. On the other hand, past history had revealed to us that a well-executed plan and a prepared army can easily bring down a larger army even if it has more sophisticated weaponry. Who could ever forget the Israeli forces which defeated a larger and ill-trained Arab forces or the case of well-trained British forces defeating Argentinean force miles away from British territory. (George, 1999, p.5)
This argumentative essay deals with the issue of the United States’ military readiness during the World War II and the Battle of Mogadishu. A brief description on the situation of the armed forces of the United States prior to World War II will be used to prove that the United States Armed Forces were not ready to engage in World War II and that despite the adjustments immediately before the war there was not enough time for the United States Army to gather enough military force and equipment to decisively win the battle. The same situation happened during the Battle of Mogadishu. Despite the experiences of the United States military in World War II and in other wars, the United States army committed similar mistakes in Somalia. The soldiers were physically and psychologically unprepared for the enemies they faced in these two battles.
World War II
Before the World War II, there was already a marked stagnation and decline in the military forces of the United States (Spencer, 2000, p.3). The size of its army dwindled to point that that it became questionable whether it will be able to gather enough force during World War II. The economic depression that followed World War I and the dwindling appropriations for the military force also affected the ability of the US Military to respond to an immediate war (Jack Spencer, p.4). The question that haunted the US government prior to the commencement of World War II was whether there would be enough time to gather enough troops and train them for battle. Because of these conditions, the US Army was seriously undermanned and under-equipped to the point of ranking 17th in size among the armies in the world.
In addition to these conditions, there were other obstacles encountered by the US Army at the outbreak of World War II. During the World War II, the doctrinal policies adopted were still reminiscent of the World War I. Proficiency in the rifle and bayonet was given emphasis. Despite the improvements in weaponries, there was a priority on headlong attacks and preference to fighting the enemy by physical encounter. The troops sent to battle in KasserinePass were also inexperienced and had no proficiency in using newly developed weapons such as the bazooka. The commanders, McQuillin and Stark, known as Old Mac and Old Stark, were inefficient and slow in reacting to the situation. Their leadership style was not suited to the kind of battle that the US was engaged in. The air-ground coordination was poor and often the ground troops were hit by friendly fire. In contrast, the Axis was powered experienced soldiers, superiority of equipment and the excellent coordination between the air and groups troops.
The US military lost in the Battle of Kasserine Pass. The Battle of Kasserine Pass manifests the possible consequences to an army if it cones to battle unprepared. Having come to the battle unprepared, the battle was considered as a disaster both strategically and tactically for the United States. It was said that German losses in this battle totaled 1,000 casualties – 200 men were killed, 550 were wounded and 250 were missing. In contrast, the United States army’s casualties were much worse – 300 were killed, 2000 wounded and 3, 000 missing.
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MogadishuBattle
The Mogadishu battle was different from the earlier battles since the US forces entered the country not for the purpose of engaging in battle but to help in the relief operations and in the rebuilding of their country. While it was not their intention to wage war, they knew however that there was an important operation in Somalia. They also knew that the armies in Somalia were well-armed. The United States Army did not take the necessary precaution to prepare and protect itself against what may happen in Somalia. As a result, what started as a humanitarian mission to deliver relief goods and to help rebuild the nation had worsened into an actual full scale battle.
Somalia was a country that suffered from serious internal conflicts and wars among different groups and clans. The continued conflicts and poor economic and social conditions within the country have all contributed to the hardships among the Somali people. The political situation was likewise turbulent. In 1991, Mohammed Siad Barre, who led the country after a successful coup, was overthrown by a coalition called the United Somalia Congress. After the revolution, the coalition was divided into two groups, the first was led by Ali Mahdi and the second was led by Mohammed Farah Aidid, who is both seeking to lead the country. This constant and incessant battle between these two opposing groups caused the destruction of the country’s agriculture which affect the food supply in the country and led to the starvation and poverty of many Somali people.
In 1992, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the two opposing groups. The United Nations immediately provided relief operations called the UNOSOM I. The problem however was that these missions were mainly unsuccessful because the food was stolen even before they were sent to their destinations. The United States then proposed that its armed forces will lead the relief operations.
In 1993, the mission was renamed UNOSOM II, indicating that the UN has taken over the operation. The objectives of UNOSOM II were to disarm the Somali people, restore peace and order and improve infrastructure. Since the UN has taken over the mission, plans to reduce the number of US forces in Somalia were also undertaken. Meanwhile, in June 1993 while UNOSOM II was being implemented, 24 Pakistani soldiers were ambushed and killed. The United Nations passed a resolution ordering the immediate apprehension of Aidid who was believed to be responsible. In July 1992, an attack was made by the US helicopters against a house in Mogadishu where several clan leaders were conducting a meeting. The US forces believed that the clan leaders were planning more violent attacks against US and UN forces
This attack resulted in the death of many Somali people. This signaled the start of war between the group of Aidid and the United States troops. Several days after United States soldiers were being killed and ambushed.
In October 1993, a plan was hatched to capture two of the top leaders of Aidid. What was supposed to be an easy abduction escalated into a 17 hour battle involving more than a hundred American soldiers and several hundreds of Aidid’s followers? Two Black Hawk Attack helicopters were hit by rocket-propelled grenades and the soldiers it carried were locked in a fierce battle against Somali people. After a grueling 17 hours of battle, 18 young American soldiers were killed and 70 were seriously injured (Bowden, 1997).
The Mogadishu battle created such an impact in the hearts and minds of the American people because US forces entered the country not to engage in battle but to help in the relief operations and in the rebuilding of their country. What started as a humanitarian mission to deliver relief goods and to help rebuild the nation had worsened into an actual full scale battle. The effort to reduce the number of the US solders in Somalia proves that they had not intention to engage in a war against the Somali people.
However, it is also the lack of sufficient manpower that was deployed to Somalia that caused this tragic event to happen (Bowden, 1997, p.4). Perhaps the military commanders thought that the Somali people who had no military training and expertise would not directly engage into combat with the more powerful US Army. Perhaps the military commanders neglected the possibility of the Somali people launching an attack against its helicopters. Perhaps the military commanders were oblivious to war between the Somali people and the US troops that had started several months before when they started ambushing the latter and when the latter conducted an attack in a Mogadishu house that led to the death of several Somali clan leaders.
Indeed, the US army not only ignored the clear signs of a possible battle but they had once again underestimated their enemy (Bowden, 1997, p.4). The attacks against US soldiers several months before this incident should have alerted the army that they are in for a serious battle. The US Army also lacked equipments that would have been very useful in Somalia (Bowden, 1997, p.4). A report on the Mogadishu battle revealed that the US army officials committed a mistake in not sending tanks and armored vehicles. These armored vehicles not only could have helped in the rescue operations that would have reduced the casualty but it could have also avoided the whole incident. (“Report of Senate Armed Services Committee Investigation on Battle of Mogadishu.”)
The report also emphasized the mistakes in military tactics committed by US Officials. It revealed that the reduction in the number of US Armed Forces in Somalia was a serious mistake. US Officials should not have sent US Armed Forces for the dangerous mission of abducting the leaders of Aidid. Reports said that this mission was conducted against the advice of top military commanders. (“Report of Senate Armed Services Committee Investigation on Battle of Mogadishu.”) Clearly, US troops were sent to the stronghold of Aidid despite the reality of the situation that the operation had little chance of success.
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Pursuant to the treaty with the Great Britain in 1783, the territory of the United States after the revolution consisted of the New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Beyond these territories, the people of the United States cannot set foot on territories as these territories belonged to the King of Spain. However, there had always been a desire among the people to traverse the unknown territories beyond the Mississippi.
After the war had ended, the people of the United States which had just gained independence from Great Britain wanted to move more freely across the frontiers or the unknown. The frontier is known in the American history as the territory which was the meeting point of the settled territory and the unoccupied land. They wanted to exploit the abundant resources that are beyond the territories which they previously knew. Many of those who wanted to explore these territories often marveled at the vast tracts of land which until then had not been discovered. William C. Davis had described the grandness of the frontier as God’s canvass. According to him, it would take the European adventurers, opportunists, settlers, and empire builders more than a century to understand the massive landscape in the West. (William C. Davis, 2005, p.7).
II. Causes of the Frontier Experience
Aside from the desire to explore, there are many reasons for the America’s frontier experience or the settlement to new territories which were previously unexplored. The first is the desire for commerce and development. It must be emphasized that President Thomas Jefferson was determined to explore the previously unknown territories. At the time, he sent a secret message to Congress calling for an expedition into the area west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. The message was considered secret since the territories where the exploration was about to be conducted belonged to France.
Jefferson had said that “...explore the Missouri River and such principal stream of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, may offer the most direct and practical water communication across the continent, for the purposes of commerce. The President could not have been more clear in his directions”(“Westward Expansion” p.1). Fortunately, Napoleon of France offered the Louisiana Territory to the United States for $15,000,000 which increased the United States territory.
It was not only the government which had an interest in the frontier. Many of the settlers who ventured into the unexplored regions in the West were in search of gold and silver. It can be recalled that gold was discovered in California in 1849. When the gold was exhausted in California, prospectors started to explore the mountains and the deserts in the West in search of new gold and silver mines. The exploration was very successful as it led to the discovery of new gold mines almost every year. For instance, there was the gold discovery in the Pike’s Peak area of Colorado in 1849 (Joseph R. Conlin, 2009, p.520). At the same time, gold miners in Nevada discovered the richest silver ores every to have been discovered (Joseph R. Conlin, 2009, p.520). The find was followed by new discoveries of gold and silver between 1857 and 1890. The discovery of gold in California triggered the migration of thousands of people in the West hoping to strike it big in the mineral-rich territories in the West. Miners flocked to Idaho, Montana, Dakota and other territories where gold was discovered. As the wave of immigration to these territories continued, lands which were previously unpopulated were suddenly filled with people. Dance halls, saloons, bars with prostitutes were built to cater to the needs of the miners. In fact, those who really strike it rich in these gold-rich areas were the individuals who provided the miners with what they need.
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While many were attracted by the opportunities for wealth, others were just dazed by the promises of adventure in the West. Many young men and women thought that the life in the West was filled with adventure. They were attracted to ranching and raising of cattle. They were drawn to the cowboy life. The cowboy life, however, did not only involve riding on horses and racing through the vast tracts of land with the horses. In fact, the life of a cowboy was very difficult involving two annual roundups and successive trips to the market. Some of the duties of cowboys involve riding to the range to bring the scattered cattle together; selecting, roping and branding the best cattle; dehorning and examining cattle for infections; preventing the cattles from going on a stampede. The cowboys also had to watch their cattles day in and day out for fourteen hours which was very grueling.
The frontier attracted not only the farmers, miners, ranchers but even the former African American slaves. These former slaves who had worked for most of their slaves moved to the unexplored territories of the West in search for a new beginning. As a result, many African Americans moved to Oklahoma and other parts of the West. The continued migration resulted in the creation of all black towns which had thousands of residents. Many of the former African American slaves became farmers, ranchers and miners. For the freed slaves realized that their work as landowners was no different from what they had done in the past where they cultivated the land owned by others. Many of the freed slaves become homesteaders in the frontier.
Another caused for the further expansion westward was the passage and enactment of the Homestead Act of 1862. In fact, the Homestead Act of 1862 was considered to be the primary reason for the immigration to the frontier. The law was passed to promote the expansion of settlers westward and the exploration and cultivation of the vast tracts of land in the west. Under the law, 160 acres or 65 hectares of unoccupied public land to each homesteader on payment of a nominal fee after five years of residence. Settlers who have resided on the land could also ask apply for complete ownership of the land for a nominal fee of $1.25 an acre. While the government earned substantial revenues for the law, the main purpose of the same is to encourage the settlement of farmers in the west.
As a result of the passage of the law, people from all walks of life headed to the west and started to file land claims in search of opportunity and wealth. Farmers who had realized that the east was becoming populated moved westward in search of more fertile farms and soil. City dwellers who had become tired of the population in the east started to move west in search of areas where there is less population and where the population is less dense. Even the African American slaves started to take advantage of the new law for purpose of acquiring a land that they can call their own. Jason Porterfield stated that the Homestead Act of 1862 was “a shining success that strengthened the country and provided opportunities for many Americans. Because of the act, millions of acres of prairie became prosperous farms. People who had never tried farming found themselves digging wells, building home and harvesting crops.” (Jason Porterfield, 2005, p.5)
III. Effects of the Frontier Experience
The settlers were the ones primarily responsible for the development of the virgin territories of the West. They were the ones cultivated and developed the lands and took advantage of the vast natural resources found in these territories. While the settlers had an impact on the new territories in the frontier, Frederick Jackson Turner was one of the theorists who advocated that the frontier experience also had a profound impact on the American culture. According to him, the values of independence, self-reliance and love of freedom were part of American culture. The sense of unlimited opportunity which the land brought to the settlers had a profound impact on the American culture. Turner added that the “coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and acquisitiveness; that practical inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that masterful grasp of material things... that restless, nervous energy; that dominant individualism" have all contributed to the formation of the American culture.
While the settlement of the West brought innumerable benefits for the American people, it also had an adverse impact on the country. First, with the influx of people and the development of the territory, many outlaws took advantage of the new-found reaches in the West. It was not only the miners, farmers, and ranchers who saw opportunity in the West but event the outlaws. The outlaws took advantage of the railroad that crossed the vast open territory which carried money, goods and passengers. The outlaws easily found out the schedule of arrival of the trains. Because of the limited number of crew members of the train they were powerless against the outlaws who were superior in number and carried guns. These robbers which were on horses would jump onto a moving train. Once on board they would release the rail cars from the main train. Robbery of trains had become widespread resulting in several outlaws becoming known in history such as Jesse James. These train robberies continued until the time came that they owners of these trains the government officials hired special agents to improve the defenses of these trains.
Another significant impact of the frontier experience was the displacement of the native Indians which previously occupied these territories in the West. Decades before the first settlers arrived in the West, the great ancestors of the Indians who migrated from Siberia traveled through vast distances of land to settle in what is known as the West (William C. Davis, 2005, p.7). The native Indians lived in these territories and treated them as their own. However, because of the desire of the government to explore these territories, many Indian were forcefully displaced from these territories. Initially, the native Indians fought for their territories. However, they soon realized that their bows and arrows were no match against the guns of the new settlers.
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The United States is known all over the world as a country that promotes the ideals of liberty, freedom, justice, peace, and equality. In many instances, the United States needed to use force in an effort to protect the citizens of other countries from a tyrannical and despotic ruler. In many instances, the United States had succeeded in driving away leaders whom it considered as threats to democracy. Yet, it is surprising to find out that despite its proclamation to the world that it promotes, the principles of liberty, freedom, justice, peace and equality for everyone, the United States had in the passed willfully transgressed the rights of slaves, African Americans and the minorities. While it proudly proclaimed to have helped granting freedom to citizens of different countries, it had in the past refused to recognize the citizenship of its own people.
The United States for several decades had institutionalized slavery. It had treated human beings as objects which can be sold and bought. These slaves were denied the right to vote, to be educated, to a rightful wage even the right to live a decent life. After the slavery was abolished, discrimination continued in the form of black codes such as the Mississippi Black Code of 1867.
The Mississippi Black Code of 1867 was among the first laws to have been passed during the Reconstruction era. It was a harsh law considering that it automatically renders a black person or a white person of a crime without being given the opportunity to be heard. On one hand, the law appeared to be consistent with the aim of the government to extend equal treatment to everybody regardless of the color of his skin. It granted several rights to the freed men by giving them the rights to file suit and to testify in court. These rights were initially denied to them before the Civil War.
Under the Mississippi Black Code of 1867, all freed blacks were given the right to sue and be sued, to acquire personal property and to intermarry with each other. However, the same code restricted and limited their rights by prohibiting them from renting or leasing on any land or tenement. Freed blacks were likewise prevented from inter-marrying with a white person and white individuals were prohibited from inter-marrying with a white person. Any person who shall violate the prohibition against interracial marriage shall be deemed convicted of a felony and shall be imprisoned for life and that the descendants from the freed men shall be deemed to have descended from a Negro up to the third generation regardless of the color of his skin.
Despite the grant of certain rights, the Mississippi Black Code also imposed restrictions against the newly freed blacks which constituted denial of basic rights. The code was a reflection of the prevailing sentiment in the Southern states. Despite the abolition of slavery and these amendments to the constitution, the Southern states wanted the institutionalized discrimination to continue even during the period of Reconstruction and for several decades after. The reason for the same is their fear that these former slaves will in the future ask for equality.
After the end of the Civil and the abolition of slavery, many Negroes states opposed the idea of equality between the black and the whites. They thought that with the abolition of slavery, African Americans may start asking for equal treatment and equal rights which the Southern states vigorously opposed. The idea of slavery had been institutionalized in their minds that they thought white superiority over the African Americans should be maintained. They believed that these two races should still be kept separate. As a result various laws which were applicable only to the newly freed slaves were passed in an effort to perpetuate the unequal status between the white persons and the freed blacks.
In an editorial in the Macon, Georgia, Daily Telegraphy reflected the sentiment of the white persons in the South. It said: “There is such a radical difference in the mental and moral [nature] of the white and black race, that it would be impossible to secure order in a mixed community by the same law.”
It seemed that the rights granted to the African Americans have all been limited to paper and that there was really no chance for them to be granted equal status. African Americans were often treated differently than the whites in almost every part of the United States. Laws were passed by state legislatures that legalized and even mandated the segregation of races.
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Several decades after the American Civil War, the United States continued with the promotion of the ideals of democracy. It even sought to fight its enemies which are against democracy. These wars, however, were not accepted by the American public. Many opposed the need to interfere with the internal affairs of a foreign country when the country has already enough problems domestically. Many individuals also questioned the motives behind these wars.
In an effort to ensure victory against its enemies, President Woodrow Wilson passed a law that he thought ensure victory in the war. He thought that in order for the United States to win its battles, it has to silence its critics and to restrict their actions. Consequently, the Espionage Act of 1917 was passed. Its sole purpose was “to punish the acts of interference with the foreign relations, neutrality, and the foreign commerce of the United States.”
The Espionage Act of 1917 criminalized the act of conveying information with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies. Moreover, under Section 3 of the same law, “Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies and whoever when the United States is at war, shall willfully cause or attempt to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or shall willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, to the injury of the service or of the United States, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both.”
However, despite being a penal law, the Espionage Act of 1917 was couched in vague terms. The language used in this law was so general in scope that any activity of a war dissenter can be interpreted as a violation of the Espionage Act of 1917. For instance, Section 3 provides that any person who causes or attempt to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, in the military or naval forces may be prosecuted under this law. This means that any individuals who shall so desire to speak against the government for their war efforts may be arrested and prosecuted under this law. In view of the restrictive nature of this law, many war dissenters have been prosecuted and punished under this law.
Surprisingly, the United States Supreme Court had in a number of cases recognized the constitutionality of the Espionage Act of 1917 and even upheld the conviction of many war dissenters under this law. In the case of Schenk v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919), the Supreme Court said that the only test to be used whether the words used are in such circumstances as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that the lawmakers tried to prevent. The Supreme Court said that “It is a question of proximity and degree. When a nation is at war, many things that might be said in time of peace are such a hindrance to its effort that their utterance will not be endured so long as men fight, and that no Court could regard them as protected by any constitutional right.”
One of these individuals who was imprisoned for speaking against the government’s war efforts was Eugene Deb. Eugene Deb was a five-time presidential candidate who was known for his eloquent speeches. He was also known for being the great voice of socialism in the United States. In 1918, he delivered a speech at a mass meeting in Canton, Ohio. While he knew that there were many government officials during the mass meeting and that there was a great likelihood that he may be arrested and imprisoned afterwards, he felt that it was his obligation to speak in behalf of the other individuals who were arrested after they had spoken against the government. He opened his speech by expressing the sentiment of many individuals at the time. He said that he had found out that “that it is extremely dangerous to exercise our constitutional right of freedom of speech in a country fighting to make democracy safe in the world.”
In referring to the government and the upper class who were able to enrich themselves every time a war is waged, he also added that “They have always taught and trained you to believe it to be your patriotic duty to go to war and to have yourselves slaughtered at their command. But in all the history of the world you, the people, have never had a voice in declaring war, and strange as it certainly appears, no war by any nation in any age has ever been declared by the people. And here let me emphasize the fact—and it cannot be repeated too often—that the working class who fight all the battles, the working class who make the supreme sacrifices, the working class who freely shed their blood and furnish the corpses, have never yet had a voice in either declaring war or making peace. It is the ruling class that invariably does both. They alone declare war and they alone make peace.”
As stated by the Supreme Court in the case of Schenk v. United States, there are certain statements which cannot be made in times of war. In view of the circumstances of the war, it is essential that greater restrictions must be made so that victory may be ensured. The courts recognize the right of the government to impose these restrictions since it is possible that there may no longer be any government to be protected in case the government loses in the war it is waging. Moreover, it was feared that the act of Eugene Deb may incite the public to insubordination and disloyalty to the government.
Conclusion
Nowadays, the United States government is no longer at war with Germany, Japan or the USSR. At this point, no war is imminent and forthcoming. It is sad that the fight for peace, equality, justice and freedom continues until today. The only difference is that the enemy is not Japan, Germany or the USSR. The enemy is the United States government which continues to restricting the individual rights and freedom of the people. On the pretext that the government is at war with terrorism, it had also passed laws to give the government broader powers to deal with the threat of terrorism. However, with the broad powers given to the government, United States government has started to terrorize the same citizens it is supposed to protect.
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Stephen King is known for his works about psychological thrillers, paranormals, horrors and science fiction. Born in 1947 in Portland, Maine, he was the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. He was raised solely by his mother after his father left the family one day. Because his mother was left alone to provide for the needs of the family, she was always working day and night just to make ends meet. He briefly stayed in StratfordConnecticut which is where his father’s family lived. When he was eleven he returned to Durham, Maine together with his mother where he stayed most of his adulthood.
It is said that Stephen King’s fascination with horror stories started as a young child when he saw one of his mother’s books entitled “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Because of his interest he asked his mother to read the book to him. He was immediately attracted to the story that he asked his mother to read the story to him several times.
Stephen King studied at a grammar school in Durham and then transferred to LisbonFallsHigh School. In high school, he showed his writing skills when he wrote weekly for the school newspaper. He became deeply involved in student politics oftentimes expressing his anti-war sentiment at school campus. He graduated with a degree in B.A. English at the University of Maine in 1970.
In 1967, Stephen King was able to sell his first short story to Startling Mystery Stories. He used his earnings to support Tabitha Spruce whom he married in January of 1971. He augmented his meager income from writing short stories by teaching high school English at HampdenAcademy.
In total, Stephen King was able to publish more than one hundred short stories and eight novellas which are indications of his accomplishment. He is now recognized as the highest earning author in the world after he has published more than thirty novels and sold more than 150 million copies. (“The Body: Teacher’s Notes” 1) It is also reported that he earns $2 Million a month from the sales of his books and returns from films. Stephen King’s story is indeed a success story.
One of the common themes in Stephen King’s books is fear and revenge. This is emphasized in the novel Carrie. The novel Carrie is a story about the 16-year old Carrietta or Carrie, the novel’s leading character. She was a lonely young girl who was an outcast at home and at school. She was hated not only by her classmates but even by her mother. The novel begins with a scene in the shower where Carrie is shown to have her first menstrual period. Her friends start to ridicule her because of the blood they saw. Carrie was afraid because it was the first time that blood came out from her. She did not know what to do as her mother did not explain her anything about menstruation. She was terrified and was afraid of the changes that were happening to her. Meanwhile, she discovers that she has telekinetic power. She tries to control her powers so that she will not hurt or harm anybody. However, she lost control during a school dance when her classmates threw a bucket of pig’s blood on her. Because of shame she left the dance only to come back later on after she realized that she would use her powers to exact revenge against the people who tormented her. She then used her powers to burn the school killing everyone inside.
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Fear and the individual or the public’s reactions to fear are the themes in Salem’s Lot. At the start of the novel, Stephen King made a clear description about the town. It was a quiet little town that hides the deepest and darkest secrets of the townspeople. It hides child abuse and neglect, infidelity and betrayal, rumor mongering, school bullies and physical abuse. It was clear that the people within the town are described to be leading separate and independent lives from each other. They are isolated from each other’s problems. One day, however, some of the townspeople start to mysteriously disappear and die. Fearing for their own lives and safety, the townspeople start to break down the barriers that keep them apart from each other so that they could fight a common enemy.
Fear and the individual’s response to fear is also the central theme in the Shining. The only difference is that the main character succumbed to his fear by becoming insane and turning against his own family. In The Shining, the father Jack Torrance accepted work to oversee a mountain resort during the winter as it was close due to the snow. He moves to the Overlook Hotel together with his family hoping that he could start a new life and begin writing his play. However, the mysteries inside the house started to haunt him. He became insane and attempted to kills his family. Fortunately, his wife and child escaped from him.
One of the unique elements in Stephen King’s novels is that he tries to incorporate actual human experiences in his novels. While he tackles with the paranormal experiences and the metaphysical in his novels, he never forgets to base his novel from real life experiences. In his novels, Stephen King highlights that everybody needs to deal with different kinds of fear in his life. (George Beahm 74) In fact, in one of Stephen King’s novels, he highlighted the top ten fears in his life. Thus, it is not the presence or absence of fear that defines a person’s character but how he responds to these fears. The defining moment in a person’s character is how he deals with his own issues.
For instance, The Shining is the story about a man who was initially good and responsible. He wanted to start a new life and focus on his writing which is one of the reasons why he accepted the job as a caretaker. However, his losing battle with alcoholism was taking its toll on him that he could no longer resist alcohol. When he gave in to alcohol he became insane. It became apparent that at the time Stephen King was writing The Shining he too was having his own battles with alcohol. It is one of the reasons why he did not appreciate the movie adaption of his novel since the director disregarded the issue of alcoholism which Stephen King wanted so dearly to be highlighted. It was an issue that was very personal to Stephen King which he wanted to be emphasized. (“FAQ for The Shining 1)
Fear is an element that contributes heavily to the theme. Stephen King first highlights the paranormal and the metaphysical in his works as basis for fear. In Carrie, Stephen King considered that the transition to womanhood was the source of fear. In The Shining, the hotel was the source of fear. In Salem’s Lot, the sudden disappearance of the townspeople was the source of the fear.
Eventually, he lets his characters determine their fate based on how they respond to their own fears. In the novel Carrie, the main character may have become a better individual. She may have used her powers for the benefit of humanity. Yet, she allowed her fears to take over her whole personality. She became evil when she allowed fear to take control.
Everybody can learn from the themes discussed by Stephen King in his novels. First, everybody has a fear of something. It could be fear of a person, an object or an event. While a person may hide his fears or run away from his fears for a while. It will continue to haunt him and to follow him forever. The only solution is to face these fears and deal with them so that one can start to lead a normal life. Running away from fear is not the solution. It is only by accepting these fears and embracing them that one can begin to live with these fears.
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