Major Themes
Theme #1-When ordinary people work together, amazing things can be accomplished.
Since humanity and society were nearly wiped out entirely by the super flu, the survivors needed to come together in order to rebuild civilization. Rebuilding society is an extremely complex task, and it cannot be done by one person or even a small group of people. A large number of people must do it together in order to get it done. Throughout the story, the followers of Mother Abigail are under the persecution of Randall Flagg which makes the challenge even harder. Most of the survivors that follow Mother Abigail are simple and ordinary people. They are farmers, factory workers, teachers, bankers, and clerks. None of these people are experts at reconstructing civilization, but when they all work together with shared leadership, anything is possible. As Glen Bateman states, "First: Re-create America...Organization and government come first..." (King 647). This quote shows that the people of the Boulder Free Zone are going to rebuild America and make a new government. With the help of all of the people, the citizens will be able to start America again. Another quote about rebuilding the Free Zone is, "Eight thousand people by winter...", and yet another is, "... I'd like to hope we'd get the million" (King 644,645). These two quotes are explaining how the population of the Free Zone is going to go from a few people to eight thousand in about a month and then to almost a million. Even though the democratic society in Boulder started by Mother Abigail has a very small population, with the help and teamwork of all of the citizens, utilities and basic services such as electricity and communication will be back in use shortly. None of the people are experts at any of these tasks, but when everyone works together, amazing things can be accomplished.
Theme #2-Peace and freedom require huge sacrifice.
This is the most important theme of the entire novel. When humanity was decimated by the super virus, two powers remained, good and evil. With Randall Flagg growing more powerful every day, the citizens of the Boulder Free Zone needed to step up and fight for justice, equality, and freedom. The fact this book makes so brutally clear is that reward requires sacrifice. As Frannie Goldsmith said, "...just supposed to deliver themselves into his hand? ...So that he can hang them on crosses and just walk in here next summer and kill everyone?" (King 917). Mother Abigail has asked Stu, Ralph, Glen, and Larry to go west in order to confront Randall Flagg, and Frannie is outraged that they are going to him like pigs for slaughter. Then Stu says, "I have to go...If we don't go, we'll die" (King 921). Stu is willing to put him life on the line in order to protect the greater good. Stu is fighting for the freedom of the citizens, and he is willing to pay the ultimate price of death. Later on in the book, the four men start west to fight Randall Flagg and his followers. Ralph, Glen, and Larry are all killed by explosion of Las Vegas, and Stu is the only one to make it out alive. This is yet another clear example of how in order to gain peace and freedom, sacrifice must be made.
Since humanity and society were nearly wiped out entirely by the super flu, the survivors needed to come together in order to rebuild civilization. Rebuilding society is an extremely complex task, and it cannot be done by one person or even a small group of people. A large number of people must do it together in order to get it done. Throughout the story, the followers of Mother Abigail are under the persecution of Randall Flagg which makes the challenge even harder. Most of the survivors that follow Mother Abigail are simple and ordinary people. They are farmers, factory workers, teachers, bankers, and clerks. None of these people are experts at reconstructing civilization, but when they all work together with shared leadership, anything is possible. As Glen Bateman states, "First: Re-create America...Organization and government come first..." (King 647). This quote shows that the people of the Boulder Free Zone are going to rebuild America and make a new government. With the help of all of the people, the citizens will be able to start America again. Another quote about rebuilding the Free Zone is, "Eight thousand people by winter...", and yet another is, "... I'd like to hope we'd get the million" (King 644,645). These two quotes are explaining how the population of the Free Zone is going to go from a few people to eight thousand in about a month and then to almost a million. Even though the democratic society in Boulder started by Mother Abigail has a very small population, with the help and teamwork of all of the citizens, utilities and basic services such as electricity and communication will be back in use shortly. None of the people are experts at any of these tasks, but when everyone works together, amazing things can be accomplished.
Theme #2-Peace and freedom require huge sacrifice.
This is the most important theme of the entire novel. When humanity was decimated by the super virus, two powers remained, good and evil. With Randall Flagg growing more powerful every day, the citizens of the Boulder Free Zone needed to step up and fight for justice, equality, and freedom. The fact this book makes so brutally clear is that reward requires sacrifice. As Frannie Goldsmith said, "...just supposed to deliver themselves into his hand? ...So that he can hang them on crosses and just walk in here next summer and kill everyone?" (King 917). Mother Abigail has asked Stu, Ralph, Glen, and Larry to go west in order to confront Randall Flagg, and Frannie is outraged that they are going to him like pigs for slaughter. Then Stu says, "I have to go...If we don't go, we'll die" (King 921). Stu is willing to put him life on the line in order to protect the greater good. Stu is fighting for the freedom of the citizens, and he is willing to pay the ultimate price of death. Later on in the book, the four men start west to fight Randall Flagg and his followers. Ralph, Glen, and Larry are all killed by explosion of Las Vegas, and Stu is the only one to make it out alive. This is yet another clear example of how in order to gain peace and freedom, sacrifice must be made.
Cross in the Sky. Illustration. n. d. "WHO WILL STAND UP FOR GOD AGAINST THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY?." pledge7.org. Web. 14. Oct. 2014.
Construction Zone. Photograph. n. d. "Welcome to the Construction Trades Foundation." ctfcareers.org. Web. 14. Oct. 2014.
Jesus On The Cross. Illustration. n. d. "Glory Minute 3.29- Sacrifice." lordofglory.org. Web. 15. Oct. 2014
Construction Zone. Photograph. n. d. "Welcome to the Construction Trades Foundation." ctfcareers.org. Web. 14. Oct. 2014.
Jesus On The Cross. Illustration. n. d. "Glory Minute 3.29- Sacrifice." lordofglory.org. Web. 15. Oct. 2014