Hello! I am currently doing research for a project and was wondering if anyone might be able to help me? I am wondering if somebody knew what characters in Stephen King's books were based off real people? Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
SK Question
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The only one I can think of right off the top of my head is Dolores Claiborne. I read somewhere that she was based upon his mother, in terms of her strength and outspokenness, anyway.
Thank you! I'll be keeping an eye out for more though.
I'm having trouble finding sources but I remember King revealing that Carrie was highly influenced by a student he knew that had a fanatical religious mother and they lived in a trailer park. The girl was poor and teased relentlessly, King said. He wouldn't tell the interviewer her name out of respect.
Second, I seem to remember King saying Jud Crandall was a mash up of many old time Mainers he grew up with but especially modeled after a man he met while living and working in Orrington. I believe the man lived close and worked at an old general store. Not 100 percent.
My gears are turning now, lol.
Second, I seem to remember King saying Jud Crandall was a mash up of many old time Mainers he grew up with but especially modeled after a man he met while living and working in Orrington. I believe the man lived close and worked at an old general store. Not 100 percent.
My gears are turning now, lol.
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Welcome to the SKMB! Keep posting!
I recommend watching as many interviews with sK that you can find. During one of them he spoke specifically about Carrie's origin, that she was based on, I think, two girls he'd known in high school.
I recommend watching as many interviews with sK that you can find. During one of them he spoke specifically about Carrie's origin, that she was based on, I think, two girls he'd known in high school.
Hi and welcome- Indeed- interviews, talks, and article all provide insight into SK character inspirations.
I have not heard this before. Interesting.
...from what I recall, MANY of his characters are at least loosely based on real folk and people he knows or has known.....you have bitten off a tough chunk of academia to chew on.....
I've just read that in the last year or so, but hell if I can remember where I read it. I've been wracking my brain, but the source just isn't coming to me.
Too many to list. They're from all stages of his life but there's always something a little different than the actual person he was inspired by to create the character.
If characters include animals, then King often tells a story about going to get his motorcycle repaired in some rural place and when he got there the mechanic's St. Bernard came out and gave him a spook. The mechanic told him not to worry but when the dog continued to growl at him the mechanic indicated the dog apparently "didn't like his face." LOL Supposedly the basis of Cujo.
Now aren't you a cockadoodie brat!Annie Wilkes is based on Ms. Mod.........
One more that came to mind was The Dark Half. I seem to recall the fan who tries to blackmail the author in the book was based on King being outed writing as Richard Bachman. Or something along those lines.
Carrie was a mash-up of two girls that King knew in school.
Yes, do you remember when he told this story? I feel like it was in On Writing, but not sure. It was a mash up of two girls but one of them committed suicide, I think. My memory is fuzzy. I'd love to remember the source.
On writing. One committed suicide, the other one died from a seizure.