Word Processor of the Gods

The sentence structure throughout the story varies greatly; Stephen King alternately uses short sentences and curt phrases and long, drawn-out sentences to reflect the unsettling tone and Richard’s state of mind. Short and abrupt sentences, such as “Doomed” (295) and “And so he would” (292) bring attention to the magnitude of Jon’s death and his toying with the idea of getting rid of his family. The longer sentences mostly reflect Richard’s haphazard thoughts as he discovers the word processor’s strange and fantastical power. These stream-of-consciousness-esque passages echo the way Richard struggles to understand what is happening.

King also weaves the occasional flashback into the text to metaphorically mirror Richard’s confusion, bewilderment, and determination. He recalls growing up with Roger, losing Belinda, bonding with Jon, and living with Lina and Seth as justifications for the actions he takes. His memories punctuate his actions and provide insights into his moral compass and conscience.

Lastly, the words he types into the word processor are all in capital letters, emphasizing the gravity of Richard’s actions. “DELETE,” “EXECUTE,” and “OVERLOAD” are all used to accentuate just how deadly and permanent Richard’s decisions are.

Stephen King juxtaposes characters and objects to delineate their differences and bring out sharp contrasts. He juxtaposes Richard and Roger, with Richard as the small and timid coward and Roger as the stereotypical playground bully. Roger is Richard’s foil; he highlights Richard’s meekness but also his kindness, and Richard notes how he has crafted his personality to be the opposite of his brother’s. King also contrasts Richard with Nordhoff, each representing different reactions people can have toward technology and scientific progress.

Jonathan and Seth are also foils. Seth is lazy, rebellious, and disrespectful, while Jonathan is brilliant, kind, and thoughtful. Their contrasts illuminate their fathers’ personalities; Seth embodies the discontent Richard feels with his life, and Roger’s brutality seems especially cruel when contrasted against Jonathan’s goodness. Lastly, the word processor and the Magic 8 Ball are juxtaposed to represent Richard’s alternate impotence and power, hopelessness and idealism. He could not prevent Roger from destroying his toy; he can, however, change his fate with the word processor. The lack of control he has over the Magic 8 Ball compared to the total control he has with the word processor shows just how much power and control Richard has now compared to when he was a child.