FEMINISM AND DOMESTIC ABUSE: AN ANALYSIS OF ‘ROSE MADDER’ BY STEPHEN KING

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to highlight the degree of domestic violence that women faced at the hands of romantic partners in the 1990s through the analysis of Rose Daniels’ character in Rose Madder by Stephen king. Stephen King also sheds light on the traumatic impact and negative psychological effect of domestic violence on the victim via Rose Daniels’ character. This research was conducted after analyzing dialogues, inner monologues and incidents present in the novel under the theory of feminism. Domestic violence of extreme extent, the struggle of running away and finding freedom from an abusive marriage, the struggles of starting a new life after being a victim of abuse for more than a decade, and the psychological impact of long term domestic abuse are discussed in this study. This research article also discusses the nature of the abuser, Norman, who is Rose Daniels’ husband as his wife is not the only woman who becomes a victim of his abuse. The Battered Woman Syndrome is an aspect of the theory of feminism and Rose Daniels’ character is analyzed under this aspect as she finds it near impossible to leave her abusive marriage. The Cycle of Abuse theory is also applied to analyze Rose’s character development as she also starts to exhibit and adapt the behavioral patterns of her abuser.