I Know What You Need

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"I Know What You Need"
Author Stephen King
Country Flag of the United States USA
Language English
Genre(s) Horror, fantasy
Published in Night Shift
Publisher Doubleday
Media type Print (Paperback)
Publication date 1978

I Know What You Need is a short story by Stephen King, first published in 1978 in the compilation Night Shift.

[edit] Plot summary

Told from the perspective of a popular, college-age girl named Elizabeth Rogan, the premise of this story concerns her sudden, unexpected attraction to a social outcast named Ed Hamner, Jr., whose paranormal ability to perceive what will make any person happy has not resulted in his own happiness. It is revealed through the course of the tale that he has been secretly craving Elizabeth's love since childhood, and has employed a variety of black magic rituals and charms to murder her lover and manipulate her emotions.

While this story flirts with casting a sympathetic light on Ed's character (describing his sad childhood, and his inability to please his parents despite his amazing gift), when his plans are ultimately brought to ruin, he is revealed less as a product of anti-elitism and more as a childish, murderous coward, morally corrupt and self-serving.

[edit] Notes

  • Elizabeth's last name is Rogan. In King's It, Beverly's married name is Rogan.

[edit] External links

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