Misery is primarily a psychological thriller; its growing horror comes not only from graphic maiming, but also from its close relationship to reality. A major theme is "reasonableness" of madness. Annie is clearly cunning and crafty, in spite of—or because of—her paranoid delusions. Paul, the captive writer, must learn to be a little selfdeluding to understand and anticipate Annie's actions and to write his best novel under her tremendous coercion.
The boundary line between reason and madness constantly shifts throughout the novel.
Paul's struggle to survive could be described as a battle of wits and pain.
He gives his struggle with Annie and his novel the name, "Can you?": a game of storytelling that he played as a child. Throughout his ordeal he repeats the question as a prayer. That process.....
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