Stephen King’s The Stand: Who’s Who
What makes The Stand, by Stephen King such a great read?
Other than the suspense, mysticism, action, adventure, and elegant writing, one thing undoubtedly sets this book apart from any others: The characters. Each and every character is its own beautiful work of art, with layer after layer of depth, precision, and symbolism. The characters teach us very important lessons, about life, the human condition, leadership, strength, hope, and character. The following is a no-spoilers synopsis of who’s who in The Stand and how I pictured them.
Harold- A pimply, overweight, insecure small-town boy who falls in love with Frannie. Rejected by his parents and others throughout the book, Harold slowly succumbs to the growing evil inside him. Harold is in a constant battle with his identity crisis, overcompensating in a way that drives others away as he tries in vain to become a leader and influencer. His own self-destruction is a key lesson in letting go of the past, embracing forgiveness, and developing compassion and empathy for the self and others. His poor leadership is a realistic example of how others can easily see through a person’s insecurities, even when they are trying as hard as possible to conceal them. In the end, his self-reflection and insightfulness are spot-on to how he failed as a leader.
Nick- A deaf and mute boy who gets badly blundered near the beginning of book one. A natural leader and virtuous character who makes you appreciate the small things in life. Nick also demonstrates leadership without the use of words; being humble, having a good work ethic, and accepting others with positive regard. Others in his party followed him and put him in charge, even when he didn’t want to take the lead. Like Nick, a natural leader is held up and supported by those around them, not demanding anything, and at the same time receiving the respect and loyalty from those around them. His selflessness was evident, and this was appreciated by his friends.
Larry- A self-absorbed, insensitive, one-hit-wonder who blew all his royalties on partying, having to move in with his mother before the flu. Larry’s conscience constantly reminds him of his moral faults, which compels Larry to be a better man throughout the story. Larry teaches you how to let go of the past and focus on your strengths. Larry is a respectable leader and shows us that leaders aren’t perfect, but a constant work in progress. Larry slowly learns to accept his past, accept his failures, and focus on his strengths.
Stu- The gas station attendant who survived the initial outbreak. Stu demonstrates how to make a decision and stick with it, and how to deny and confront nagging feelings of guilt. There are always tough decisions in life, but in the end, you do what you know is best, and that’s all you can do.
Frannie- The pregnant girl. Frannie struggles with themes of love, grief, and anxiety throughout the story. Worried about the survival of her baby, Frannie teaches you about hope in the face of constant danger. She shows great judgment and wisdom, having to choose what’s best for her baby. She demonstrates emotional resilience after having to process much grief and make meaning of the traumas in her life. Frannie is a good soul who’s easy to relate to.
Lloyd- Went to prison for small crimes, escaped with another inmate, and ended up committing a mass shooting with him at a gas station. Went to prison again and was rescued by Randall Flagg after eating a dead man’s leg for dinner. Lloyd struggles with OCD after this, compulsively showering. He makes you question the meaning and making of loyalty. For example; how did Hitler accumulate so many loyal followers? Lloyd’s feelings tell all.
Nadine- A schoolteacher, Nadine is introduced later in the story. She takes in a savage Asian boy after the fall and nurtures him. She is a good and kind soul (or is she?), and she will teach you much about discernment, and the need for us humans to have a sense of belonging to thrive. That is, to belong; whether it’s to another person, group, or purpose. You’re in for some surprises and Nadine will plunge you into the unknown depths of the human heart. Without spoilers, not much else can be said, other than Nadine is one of the characters that take this story to a new level of greatness. For my all-spoilers take on Nadine, see this article.
Glen- The eccentric sociology professor who is happy humanity has fallen so he can retire and paint. He is the cornerstone character in the rebuilding of society from scratch. He will teach you how to organize and build a society, how to establish law and order, and how to think positively in a post-apocalyptic-world. He will teach you philosophical and societal insights that would be great to know if society was ever demolished.
Tom- A mentally challenged boy rescued by Nick and brought to the Free Zone. Tom is endearing and addicting, for his simplicity and ignorance of evil. Tom will teach you how to trust and have faith in others and in the future, which, if mastered, is the ultimate means of stress-reduction.
Rita- The oldest woman after the flu, 108 years old. Rita is a faithful Christian woman who serves as a prophet, getting visions and dreams from God about the future, her future followers, and about the true evilness of the dark man. Rita will teach you about scripture, good vs. evil, and how to kill a chicken. Rita serves as the unofficial leader of the Free Zone.
Dayna- A bisexual, athletic feminist taken prisoner as a sex slave by a group of savage men who make a good time for themselves by raping and drugging eight women. Although Dayna plays a short role in the story, she is the strongest and most influential of all the female characters. Her wit, grittiness, and courageousness teach you how to be fearless in the face of death. Much more in my spoilers-filled follow-on article.
Randall Flagg- aka: Dark man, The Devil’s Prawn, the Walkin’ Dude, Ageless Stranger, Quasi-Immortal human — we don’t know what exactly he is, and more importantly, where he came from. It’s pretty clear his intent seems to be death, destruction, and world domination. His mysteriousness is what builds the suspense and anticipation throughout this book. All we know is he has some strange power that draws the vulnerable to him, black feathers swinging from his hair and razor-sharp teeth. He also can make people go mad just by looking at them, one of his most interesting powers. His leadership style is leading by fear, and the results of this are blind followership of the vulnerable. He makes others follow him by fear of death, abandonment, and rejection. He prays on the weak, exposing and exploiting their faults for his own benefit. He is deceptive, but in the end, he only takes.
These characters are as real as can be, and see this article, spoilers included, after reading the book.
Get The Stand here: https://amzn.to/37EWJir
Watch my YouTube Review Here: https://youtu.be/2we7mp3hEfY
