Strawberry Spring

“Strawberry Spring” is a classic horror story that ends with a plot twist. King’s unassuming narrator lulls readers into believing in his innocence. He is just as scared and confused as everyone else on campus when the murders occur. As the story is told from the narrator’s point of view, readers only have as much information as he presents. Few details are provided about the murders; no clues or evidence are found. No one has reported suspicious activity. The melting snow, muddy ground, and wet weather have eliminated traces such as footprints or fingerprints at the crime scenes.

That the victims are all women suggests a sexual motive; the narrator alludes to Jack the Ripper, who disemboweled, dismembered, and sexually assaulted his victims. Rape is not mentioned as part of the murders, and aside from the second victim’s missing head, the specific missing body parts of the other victims are not named, leaving it unclear as to whether the victims were sexually violated. The narrator betrays no guilt or nervousness and seems as horrified as everyone else when he learns of the decapitation and dismemberment. He describes the decapitated victim Ann Bray as “dead… worse than dead” (186).