Hysterical Quote by Stephen King as Richard Bachman
““Which one hadn't he walked down? Was it Barkovitch? Collie Parker? Percy What'shisname? Who was it? 'GARRATY!' the crowd screamed deliriously. 'GARRATY, GARRATY, GARRATY!' Was it Scramm? Gribble? Davidson? A hand on his shoulder. Garraty shook it off impatiently. The dark figure beckoned, beckoned in the rain, beckoned for him to come and walk, to come and play the game. And it was time to get started. There was still so far to walk.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Long Walk by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman), 1979
In the deathly walking contest, Garraty tries to recall which boy he has not outlasted, while the crowd screams his name and the fateful figure beckons him onward.
In simple terms: Crowds chant Garraty's name as he confronts the long walk.
Key Takeaway
Once the game begins, there is no turning back.
Themes
endurance
death
madness
crowd psychology
compulsion
Mood
tense
ominous
desperate
Type
fictional
dystopian
psychological
When to use this quote
- analyzing dystopian fiction
- discussing peer pressure
- examining meaningless competitions
- survival under pressure
Key Concepts
inescapable fate
psychological descent
public spectacle as torture
Questions to Reflect On
- Why is the crowd's chanting so unsettling?
- What does the dark figure represent for Garraty?
A Different Perspective
The excerpt is context-heavy and confusing without knowing the premise of The Long Walk.
