Gerald's Game

Inhoud

On a warm weekday October, in the lovely summer home of Gerald and Jessie Burlingame, a game is about to begin. It's a game to be played between husband and wife, and a game that has Jessie being innocently handcuffed to the bedposts. Then, in one horrible, violent act, Gerald is dead and Jessie, well, she's alone and still chained to the bed. But Jessie's about to have company: all of her worst nightmares.

Bespreking

A what-if-scenario expertly woven into an intimate thriller

Jessie and Gerald Burlingame have been married for 20 years. In an attempt to make their sex life more exciting, Gerald has subtly introduced handcuffs to their bed games. Jessie was never really fond of these toys. Indeed, if the excitement of her husband wouldn't have been so extremely obvious, Jessie might have never agreed to it. But the sound of the handcuffs clicking in place aroused Gerald so much, that Jessie simply could not refuse. This time it is different. This time she had enough and decides not to play along anymore. Sadly enough, when she is ready to share this conclusion with her overly excited husband, she finds herself already tied to the bedposts. Then she makes her biggest mistake: she furiously kicks her husband. When Gerald drops to the ground, she realizes that her part of the game is far from over.
With Gerald's Game Stephen King has created a setting that comes really close to the one that was so expertly woven in Misery. Effectively it recalls that same claustrophobic feeling of being totally helpless and completely isolated from the sane world. What makes Gerald's Game different is the level of violence, or at least the direction it takes. Jessie Burlingame is confronted with an inescapable situation, but also with her own disturbed personality. Brilliantly King depicts her internal struggle by calling-up -and playing with- the images of Jessie's other personalities. In Misery the violence is far less personal. It is mostly external by means of pure evil incorporated in the person of Annie Wilkes. On this level Gerald's Games leaves a stronger impression than Annie could accomplish. The sad part though, is clearly the conclusion of Gerald's Game. The very strong built-up of the narrative is simply not cashed-in, but diverted towards a less remarkable surprising ending. Not that this is bad, but is could have been a lot more gripping and personal. Although this reduces Gerald's Game in my view to a runner-up to Misery, this story deserves to be noted as one of King's best.