Societal Divisions in "The Running Man" by Stephen King

In the beginning of the novel, we are taken through the daily routine of Ben Richards, highlighting the bleakness of his life and illustrating the divide between the rich and the poor. Richards describes how every development had a free-vee and it was the law, indicating that the games network is imposing its own standards of acceptability on society. This lack of support and hope for Richards showcases the theme of societal division, not just in terms of wealth but also in terms of race.

Through Richards' perspective, we gain insight into the causes behind this large social divide. In one scene, Richards watches a TV show called "Treadmill to Bucks," where only patients with chronic heart, liver, or lung diseases are accepted to run on a treadmill.

King's depiction of the future highlights the growing gap between the rich and the poor, with the latter facing ridicule and having to work hard for their money. This theme is effectively developed through Richard's use of humor and sarcasm towards the employees of the games company, exemplified in his remark to the nurse to "Take a shower, kid.

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You done good." (32). As Richard meets Jimmy Laughlin and discovers that many others are also struggling in society, he begins to realize the divide that exists between different classes. The introduction of the Running Man game show further emphasizes how society can manipulate lower class individuals for entertainment, reinforcing the idea that society has a strong influence and is deeply divided. While these are prominent themes in the book, there is also an underlying message of resilience and overcoming obstacles in life.

Richards reveals the difficult circumstances of his life, including his wife's occupation as a prostitute, his daughter's terminal illness, and their financial struggles due to his unemployment.

During his run in this part of the novel, Richards starts to fight for his life. The strong presence of society as a character is evident as the audience, who do not know Richards, boo him based on the negative portrayal by the games network. The crowd's hostile reactions, such as "Get out you creep!"(70) and "Kill him!"(70), highlight society's control. Richards then encounters Stacey, a young boy from a struggling family roaming the streets at night, further emphasizing the division within society.

Stacey, who is described as being "eight in March" (119), shows his lack of education by asking Richards to "toke up" (119), reflecting the troubling path many impoverished children in the neighborhood are on. Society's influence is evident in another instance when Bradley mistakes Richards for "that guy on the free-vee" (121) and wrongly assumes he "fried five cops" (121). This demonstrates how even the poorest individuals can form negative opinions about Richards based on information circulating within their community.

During Richards' encounter with Bradley and his family, he learns about the detrimental effects of the city's air on one's health. Bradley mentions how the cost of nose plugs makes it a luxury only the wealthy can afford, highlighting the stark divide in society. He also mentions how the games network, or "free-vee," is deceiving them and causing harm. This underscores the theme of societal control, with the games network manipulating and endangering the less privileged individuals in society.

As Richards reflects on his past, he realizes that his life has been a constant struggle, with people making derogatory comments about him such as "Can you believe he was a wiper for six years and knocked her up?" (157). This theme of overcoming obstacles resonates with readers because it is a common experience. Later, Bradley informs Richards that Laughlin, the other contestant, has been caught and killed, and young Bobby and Mary Cowles were seen "grinning broadly into the camera" (159). This highlights the lack of values in society and the prevailing influence of societal norms in the novel.

In this following section, Richards takes control of a car owned by a woman named Amelia Williams, who belongs to a higher social class than most of the individuals he has encountered. Despite Richards' reassurances that he has no harmful intentions towards her, Amelia expresses fear by asking, "Will you rape me?" (202). Reflecting on Amelia and Bradley, I draw connections to the profound divisions between rich and poor, and white and black. This comparison highlights the stark contrast between the two groups, where even something as basic as grammar plays a significant role. It underscores the government's neglect towards educating the poor, using them merely for entertainment purposes while prioritizing the wealthy.

Richards comes up with a plan, stating "There will be a dozen free lance cameramen around in no time"(208), as he believes they will not harm his hostage, a wealthy and respected woman in the community. He understands that if the community learns of the corruption of the games company, they will turn against it due to the strong societal ties in the future. King portrays this theme through Richards' actions, as he always considers society's impact. Richards manipulates the societal divisions to his advantage, enlisting the poor as allies and targeting the wealthy as victims. Despite warning Amelia about the network causing harm to millions, she dismisses him, highlighting the societal power dynamics in the game where anyone can be branded as bad, regardless of their intentions.

In the final 64 pages of the book, Richards is close to finishing the game and winning the money, but he is presented with a deal from Killian, the head of the game company. As the story comes to a close, Richards is near the end of his adventure and has made a significant amount of money for his family. This ties back to the recurring theme of overcoming obstacles, as he has essentially triumphed over a hurdle for his family's financial well-being. Killian reveals to Richards that his "wife and daughter are dead" (290), with his wife having been "stabbed over 60 times" (294). This inclusion by King serves to illustrate how society's influence can be so potent, compelling an individual who doesn't even know Richards' family to commit such a heinous act based on societal norms.

One question I pondered about the running man game was how one could successfully integrate back into society after being branded as a criminal. It seems inevitable that death awaits those who participate, no matter how skilled they are at dodging it. Ultimately, Richards crashes the plane into the games company building, taking Killian with him while defiantly gesturing and smiling. It appears that King wanted to illustrate society as an overpowering force that proves to be too much for Richards to handle. By portraying Richards' perspective throughout the story, King effectively conveys the influence of society in the book.