Needful Things

How does Leland convince people do things that they would never normally do? Who acts uncharacteristically after purchasing something, and who plays a prank or commits a crime that seems in character? Support your response with examples from the text.

What is the broader philosophical significance of the rivalry between the Catholics and Baptists? Why is Casino Night the catalyst for so much destruction?

Compare and contrast the novel’s two primary avatars of domestic violence. What do Wilma and Buster have in common?

In Castle Rock, Gaunt’s shop is called Needful Things, but in Iowa, his new shop is called Answered Prayers. The narrative also implies that the shop remembered by Alan, Just the Ticket, was also owned by Gaunt. What do these three store names have in common, and how do they reflect different aspects of Gaunt’s demonic ethos?

The setting of Castle Rock is an essential component of the text, striking a balance between the mundane and the uncanny. To what extent does Castle Rock embrace the stereotypical conventions of small-town America, and how does Stephen King use these early details to create a false sense of security?

Polly and Alan are cautious of their new relationship. What does their romantic relationship demonstrate about the nature of vulnerability and resilience? How does this aspect of their connection help them to resist the lure of materialist greed?

It can be argued that this novel is a critique of modern capitalism. However, the flashbacks that depict Gaunt’s earlier exploits show that he has been operating for many hundreds of years. What does this fact suggest about the nature of humanity?

Gaunt’s “pranks” often involve destruction of property, the slaughter of beloved pets, and the sabotage of personal and professional relationships. Choose at least three characters and analyze what each destroyed thing implies about the character of the person who lost it.