Who is Annie Wilkes?

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Annie Wilks is the protagonist of the 1985 novel Misery by Stephen King. This is one of the most popular and memorable characters from the entire work of the writer. The complex and extraordinary image of Annie can evoke conflicting feelings in readers: fear, disgust and at the same time pity.

Storyline

The genre of the book can be defined as a psychological thriller. It is noteworthy that the novel lacks elements of mysticism, which are filled with other works of the writer. The plot is based on the complex relationship between a best-selling author and his most devoted fan.

Writer Paul Sheldon ended a series of novels with the death of the main character, Misery. Having written a new book, completely different in plot and genre, he goes to Los Angeles. But on the way, the man gets into a serious car accident and loses consciousness.

Paul wakes up in the house of a strange woman, former nurse Annie Wilks. She has read all of his books and loves Misery Chastain. At first, Paul is grateful for his salvation, he receives food and painkillers, hopes for a speedy arrival of doctors and the restoration of telephone service.

Annie takes care of the sick like a professional nurse. But after some time, the writer begins to suspect that not everything is in order with the psyche of this woman. Will she give him the opportunity to call home? The first doubts turn into a serious threat.

Manifestations of character

Miss Wilkes is aggressive at times: this is how she reacts to Paul's new book and subsequently forces him to burn the creation with his own hands. But for him, this book was of great importance. Paul mentally addresses future readers: "This work is real and just try to look away." Annie Wilks has acted as a tough critic, and that's not all she can do. It costs nothing for her to inflict physical suffering on her idol and kill a young policeman. Acting in her own interests, this woman will stop at nothing.

But even she can be hurt, and at the end of the novel, Paul understands how to do it. Destroy the most dear to the devoted reader - the best book about Misery. Annie will never know how the affair ended…

Nurse Annie Wilks

At the time of the events described in the novel, Annie is 44 years old. She lives all alone, runs the household and periodically travels to the nearest town of Sindwinder. Subsequently, Paul learns some facts from the former life of a former nurse. I was born into a dysfunctional family. When she was eleven years old, she pushed her father down the stairs. Then a neighbor dies at her hands.

Annie Wilks gets her nursing degree andgets a job in a hospital, changes jobs several times. After reading old newspaper clippings found in the house, Sheldon realizes that his "savior" was responsible for many of the deaths. She murdered elderly people, babies, and later killed her husband in cold blood.

Stephen King himself drew parallels between the cruel heroine and his alcohol and drug addiction. It was the writing of the book that helped him heal. Perhaps that is why the novel has a happy ending.

The fictional character writer finally finds his freedom and returns home. The tragic events helped him to better understand his life and understand where to strive. At the same time, Wilks is the collective image of King fans. Sometimes people are frightening in their desire to be close to an idol, imitate him and know everything about his life.

Annie's character and habits

Frequent mood swings make Misery's Annie Wilks' actions unpredictable. She jokes and laughs with Paul, then suddenly experiences outbursts of rage and a desire for violence. She is religious and does not tolerate swear words, while in moments of anger she herself uses them. Forcing a writer against his will to write a new book about Misery's return demands writing faster. And then - almost crying and asking for forgiveness, looking at his tired, wounded hands.

The heroine is not stupid, thanks to her cunning in the past, she managed to avoid prison. Attentive to detail and has a very keen eye. Easily notices the slightest change in the state of things in the room. deceive thisa woman is almost impossible: she perfectly understands Paul's feelings and his desire to escape. But Annie Wilkes is not ready to be alone again, and in the future to be punished.

To the movies

In the early 90s, a movie based on the book of the same name was released. The role of the "dragon in a skirt" was played by the then not very famous actress Kathy Bates. The writer was played by James Caan. It is worth noting that the actress received several awards for the role that brought her fame and success.

The plot of the film is somewhat different from that presented in the book. It had to be shortened a bit, adding some new characters (the sheriff and his wife investigating the case of the disappearance of Sheldon). But the image of Annie is conveyed almost exactly as a woman capable of evoking both sympathy and the deepest hostility. The screen even showed her favorite animal - a pig named after her beloved heroine.

In the theater

The minimum number of characters, the limited location and the lack of fantasy in the plot made the work convenient for implementation in a theatrical script. Already in the 2000s, the first productions appeared. Misery was given a special adapted script and premiered in London. The play was a success with the audience. Now it can be seen in many countries and cities. In the Russian-language version, the role of crazy Annie is played by artist E. Dobrovolskaya. A popular writer is represented by D. Spivakovsky or V. Loginov.