Cujo by Stephen King Book Analysis

People’s personalities are influenced by their decisions and actions. These experiences can prove to be valuable because it helps them grow as an individual. In the fictional story “Cujo” by Stephen King, Donna’s thought’s reveal that she is a protective mother who won’t give up despite what obstacles she may face. All she cares about is making sure her son Tad is safe. When Donna finds herself in a crisis she tries to handle it the fastest way possible. Meaning she has to think about what to do right away. Everything Donna does is to keep herself and her son safe from the rabid dog who is trying to kill them.

Donna’s thoughts reveal a lot about her. In the book it says, “ There was no contact between her brain and her legs…  Donna was paralyzed with fear and didn't really know what she was doing.  “Her urine went... I'll never be able to get that door open and get in and get it shut, she thought”(King 13, 17), When she was paralyed she had no idea what she was doing and even peed herself.  Donna had to think about what to do since Cujo is charging at her and she is hurt. Donna thinks she might not be able to make it. This reveals a lot about Donna because it shows that she is thinking about the long term consequences and not just doing the first thing that comes to her mind. In her case it’s very important to think things through, the problem is she has to think about it fast to stay alive.  

Donna is the type of mother that is very protective of her child. “She jackknifed across  Tad’s lap, moving with such a hard muscular spasm that she cracked her fingers on the window crank”(King 32). Donna is trying to close Tad’s window before Cujo can get in. It states that she even cracked her fingers trying to get the window shut. This proves that Donna puts her child before her. And will do anything just to keep her son safe. Donna has a very protective mother instinct. 

When Donna is put in front of a crisis she doesn't give up and tries her best to get out of it. “Her feet almost skidded out from under her in the loose gravel, and she was only able to recover by slamming her arm down on the Pinto's hood”(King 16). Donna was about to fall and she would have fallen if she hadn’t slammed her arm down on the Pinto. She may have thought that by slamming her arm on the Pinto’s  she may be able to stay standing. All of this happened in just one second. Donna couldnt waste anymore time since Cujo was still after her. That one action so small, might have saved her life. “ Using everything that she had, she managed to force the window crank another quarter turn… and then Cujo pulled back”(35). Donna could have been really scared and like another person probably would have backed away right away, but Donna is trying her best to keep Cujo away from the window or make him back down. In this crisis Donna doesn't just give up and accept her fate, she tries her best to get out of the horrible situation.

Donna went through alot in this story. But no matter what happened she always tried to find a way out of the problem. Donna is a very strong person when it comes to survival. She did not expect to encounter a rabid dog when she was going to get her car fixed, but she did. And she didn't just sit there and give up on life but she tried to stay alive and keep her son Tad safe.