The Science of Stephen King

What is the science behind trauma? Through research, we now know that caring, positive relationships have an effect on how our brains develop as children. The opposite of that type of environment can have a negative effect on the brain not only in childhood, but throughout life. The brain learns to adapt to its environment so when someone is in a state of constant fear or panic, their brain will react to situations in that frame of mind. The good news is that the brain can also be taught how to reverse these negative effects. Having close, consistent, positive relationships is the key to overcoming trauma at any age. One key component for adults is to use mindfulness techniques in order to be present in their current situation. By being mindful and logical about their feelings, people who have experienced trauma can retrain their brains.

A theme in Pet Sematary is the idea of sacred burial grounds and the power they might possess. Americans have been fascinated with indigenous burial lands for centuries. Philip Freneau wrote in his 1787 poem “The Indian Burying Ground,”

Thou, stranger, that shalt come this way,

No fraud upon the dead commit—

Observe the swelling turf, and say

They do not lie, but here they sit.6

Around the time of the writing of Pet Sematary, there were real land disputes at play in the state of Maine that Stephen King was hearing about. These disputes put into the minds of all landowners whether they truly own the land they have paid for. This guilt or observance that comes from being aware of indigenous peoples’ rights to land plays a part in the horror genre. Those who disrespect the land or steal from rightful owners will be haunted or punished.

Pet crematoriums and pet cemeteries are a booming business worldwide with an estimated one hundred million dollars in profits per year.7

Another Native American theme that is prevalent in the novel is the legend of the Wendigo. We had the opportunity to interview artist Winona Nelson, a member of the Leech Lake Band of Minnesota Chippewa, about the legend.

Kelly:“In the latest iteration of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, the burial ground’s powers are rooted in a long mythology, stemming back to the people who inhabited the northeastern seaboard and continental interior, especially the Great Lakes region. Do you know any legends specifically about this region and indigenous people?”

Winona Nelson: “Yes, I know a bit. My tribe, the Ojibwe, is spread throughout that region. Because it is so far north and the climate so inhospitable, we survived the coming of the Europeans in large numbers and were able to keep a lot of our traditions and stories and our language strong, compared to what happened to tribes to the south and east of our range.”

Meg:“The wordwendigotranslates to ‘the evil spirit that devours mankind,’ though one German explorer translated it to mean ‘cannibal.’ How does this definition fit the legend through the Ojibwe story?”

Winona Nelson: “The Ojibwe language has concepts that can’t translate very well to English, because a word can refer to both a literal creature or thing as well as a metaphor or idea. Wendigo stories are sometimes simply monster stories meant to scare or thrill. As a monster, a wendigo is often described as hugely tall, a former human cursed with a desperate hunger that cannot be satiated no matter how much they consume, because when they eat they only grow larger, needing more food. They are so thin they are like skin stretched over a skeleton, and are inhumanly strong and cannot be killed without first being turned back into a human by forcing them to drink hot tallow.”

Kelly: “That sounds terrifying!”