Carrie White (other)
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Carietta N. White is the
title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...
and
protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a ...
of author
Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...
's first published novel, '' Carrie''. In every adaptation and portrayal of ''Carrie'', she is portrayed as a high school outcast,
bullied Bullying is the use of force, coercion, Suffering, hurtful teasing, comments, or threats, in order to abuse, aggression, aggressively wikt:domination, dominate, or intimidate one or more others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. On ...
and abused by students and even her own mother
Margaret Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Iranian languages, Old Iranian. It has been an English language, English name since the 11th century, and remained popular thro ...
, an unstable
religious fanatic Religious fanaticism or religious extremism is a pejorative designation used to indicate uncritical zeal or obsessive enthusiasm that is related to one's own, or one's group's, devotion to a religion – a form of human fanaticism that could ...
. She also has
telekinetic Telekinesis () (alternatively called psychokinesis) is a purported psychic ability allowing an individual to influence a physical system without physical interaction. Experiments to prove the existence of telekinesis have historically been cri ...
powers that confuse and frighten her, and fuel Margaret's conviction that her daughter is possessed by the
Devil A devil is the mythical personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conce ...
. Since the novel's release, Carrie has appeared in a variety of other media, including five films and four
music videos A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
.


Novel

In the novel, Carrie's full name is ''Carietta'' N. White, whereas many film adaptations spell her full name as Carrietta. She is depicted as a "frog among swans"; a white girl who has skin often peppered with pimples on her face, shoulders, and buttocks, blonde hair that at times appear completely without color, and incredibly dark brown eyes that appear to cast shadows beneath them. She is also slightly overweight, shy, lonely, and isolated. She is severely bullied at school. Her widowed mother,
Margaret Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Iranian languages, Old Iranian. It has been an English language, English name since the 11th century, and remained popular thro ...
, is a mentally unstable religious fanatic who beats her daughter and throws her into a "prayer closet" whenever she does something that her mother thinks is sinful. When Carrie gets her
first period First Period is an American architecture style originating between approximately 1626 and 1725, used primarily by British colonists during the settlement of the British colonies of North America, particularly in Massachusetts and Virginia. ...
on the floor in the girls' locker room, Carrie panics; she does not know what is happening as Margaret never taught her about menstruation. The terrified Carrie seeks help in the other girls, believing that she is dying. The other girls, led by the popular
Chris Hargensen ''Carrie'' is a 1974 horror novel by American author Stephen King. Set in the town of Chamberlain, Maine, the plot revolves around Carrie White, a friendless high school girl from an abusive religious household who discovers she has telekinet ...
and her friend
Sue Snell Susan D. Snell is a fictional character created by American author Stephen King in his first published 1974 horror novel, '' Carrie''. She is a popular teenage girl dating Tommy Ross. After tormenting Carrie White in the locker room, Sue begins ...
, shout 'period' over and over and stare at Carrie as she showers. The school gym teacher
Rita Desjardin Miss Rita L. Desjardin is a fictional character created by American author Stephen King in his first published 1974 horror novel '' Carrie''. In the 1976 film adaptation, the character was renamed Miss Collins and portrayed by Betty Buckley. In ...
– who pities rather than likes Carrie – punishes the girls who were involved with a week of detention, and bans Chris from the prom when she refuses to comply. Chris schemes for revenge against Carrie with the help of her boyfriend, Billy Nolan. Meanwhile, Carrie is thrilled when Sue's boyfriend Tommy Ross asks her to the
prom A promenade dance or prom is a formal dance party for graduating high school students at the end of the school year. Students participating in the prom will typically vote for a ''prom king'' and ''prom queen''. Other students may be honored ...
, unaware that Sue had asked him to do it in order to atone for bullying her. When Margaret learns about the
prom A promenade dance or prom is a formal dance party for graduating high school students at the end of the school year. Students participating in the prom will typically vote for a ''prom king'' and ''prom queen''. Other students may be honored ...
, she is furious, and forbids her to go. Finally fed up with her mother's abuse, Carrie uses her powers to knock Margaret to the floor, and proceeds to go the prom with Tommy. At the prom, Tommy and Carrie are voted Prom King and Queen – unaware that Chris had engineered Carrie's victory as part of a plan to get revenge for being banned from the
prom A promenade dance or prom is a formal dance party for graduating high school students at the end of the school year. Students participating in the prom will typically vote for a ''prom king'' and ''prom queen''. Other students may be honored ...
due to bullying Carrie earlier. As an elated Carrie accepts her crown, Chris and Billy dump a bucket of pig's blood over her head, provoking the entire school, even Desjardin, to start laughing at her. Humiliated and enraged, Carrie loses control of her powers and lets loose a torrent of telekinetic energy that demolishes the school and kills several students. As she walks home, she unleashes her powers on the town as well, destroying several buildings and killing hundreds of people. When she returns home, she tells Margaret what happened, and Margaret tells her that she has been possessed by Satan and must be destroyed. Margaret attacks Carrie with a carving knife, and reveals that she became pregnant with her after her husband, Carrie's father, raped her. She stabs Carrie in the shoulder, but Carrie murders her by telekinetically stopping her heart. Mortally wounded, Carrie makes her way to the roadhouse where she was conceived. She sees Chris and Billy leaving, having been informed of the destruction by one of Billy's friends. After Billy attempts to run Carrie over, she telekinetically takes control of his car and sends it racing into the tavern wall, killing both Billy and Chris. Sue finds Carrie collapsed in the parking lot, bleeding out from the knife wound. The two have a brief telepathic conversation thanks to Carrie's abilities in which Carrie realizes that Sue was not involved in the prank. Carrie then dies, crying out for her mother.


Performers

*
Sissy Spacek Mary Elizabeth "Sissy" Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Sissy Spacek, numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over five decades, including ...
(1976;
theatrical film A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation ...
) *
Linzi Hateley Linzi Hateley (born 23 October 1970) is an English stage actress. At the age of 21, in 1992, she became one of the youngest nominees for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as the Narrator in the West End ...
(1988;
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
) *
Angela Bettis Angela Marie Bettis (born January 9, 1973) is an American actress, film producer, and director. Following her breakthrough role as Janet Webber in the Drama (film and television), drama film ''Girl, Interrupted (film), Girl, Interrupted'' (1999 ...
(2002;
television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...
) *
Jodelle Ferland Jodelle Micah Ferland (born October 9, 1994) is a Canadian actress. She debuted as a child actress at the age of six in the television film ''Mermaid'' (2000) for which she won a Young Artist Award and received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, ...
(2002; television film ) * Molly Ranson (2012;
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...
) *
Chloë Grace Moretz Chloë Grace Moretz (; born February 10, 1997) is an American actress. She began acting as a child, with early roles in the horror film ''The Amityville Horror (2005 film), The Amityville Horror'' (2005), the drama series ''Desperate Housewives' ...
(2013;
theatrical film A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation ...
) * Skyler Wexler (2013; theatrical film ) *
Madelaine Petsch Madelaine Grobbelaar Petsch (born August 18, 1994) is an American and South African actress and social media personality. She is best known for portraying Cheryl Blossom on The CW television series '' Riverdale'' (2017–2023). Early life Pets ...
(2018; '' Riverdale: A Night to Remember'' ) *
Emilija Baranac Emilija Baranac (born August 4, 1994) is a Canadian actress and model. She is known for her portrayal of Midge Klump in The CW drama series '' Riverdale'' and as Genevieve in the ''To All the Boys I've Loved Before'' film series. Life and care ...
(2018; ''Riverdale: A Night to Remember'' ) * Summer H. Howell (TV miniseries) * Isabel McGinty (Ice-Nine Kills music video) * Whitney Jones (Common Shiner music videos)


Musical

In 1988, ''Carrie'' was adapted into a musical co-produced by the
Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...
. Carrie was portrayed by
Linzi Hateley Linzi Hateley (born 23 October 1970) is an English stage actress. At the age of 21, in 1992, she became one of the youngest nominees for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as the Narrator in the West End ...
in both the London production and the Broadway transfer. Her songs include "And Eve Was Weak", "Evening Prayers", and "I Remember How Those Boys Could Dance" (duets with
Betty Buckley Betty Buckley (born July 3, 1947)LuKanic, Steven A (1995). Film Actors Guide'. Los Angeles, CA: Lone Eagle Publishing. p. 55. . is an American actress and singer. Buckley is the winner of a Tony Award, and was nominated for an additional Ton ...
, who also played teacher Miss Collins in the 1976 film, as her mother) and the solos "I'm Not Alone" and "Carrie". Linzi Hateley won a
Theatre World Award The Theatre World Award is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway. It was first awarded for the 1945–1946 theatre se ...
for Best Newcomer for this, her first starring role. She recorded the song "Carrie" for her album ''Sooner or Later''. The pig's blood scene and the ensuing massacre are depicted in the musical number "The Destruction". Carrie seals off the exits, kills everyone present (staged through pyrotechnics and lasers), and brings down the ceiling, burying the promgoers. Carrie sinks to the floor and begins to cry. Margaret arrives in an evening dress, and comforts her. She then stabs Carrie on the school stairs (a "white-on-white staircase to heaven") during the song "Carrie (reprise)" in a moment described by one scholar as "the sort of moment
Florenz Ziegfeld Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the '' Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He al ...
might have come up with had a lunatic asked him to stage a
Grand Guignol The Théâtre du Grand-Guignol () was a theater in the Pigalle district of Paris (7, cité Chaptal). From its opening in 1897 until its closing in 1962, it specialized in horror shows. Its name is often used as a general term for graphic, amor ...
version of his ''
Follies ''Follies'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The plot centers on a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on the ''Ziegfeld Follies ...
''". Carrie uses her powers to stop Margaret's heart before dying herself, comforted by Sue.


2012 revival

The 2012 revival of the show portrays a different version of events. The blood is dumped onto Carrie (portrayed by Molly Ranson) from above, as in the book. She slams the doors shut and turns off the lights, creating a blackout. The lights struggle back on in a strobe effect as Carrie forces everyone else to the ground. The students writhe in desperation as Carrie sets the gym on fire, and telekinetically forces Chris Hargensen to break her own neck. Several try to escape but are pinned to the walls. Carrie then leaves, blowing up the gym as she does so. Sue narrates how Carrie cuts a trail of destruction across town on her way home, as Sue herself follows her. At the White home, Carrie finds Margaret reciting prayers. She takes Carrie in her arms and sings softly to her before revealing the kitchen knife and stabbing her. Carrie uses her powers to force the knife out of Margaret's hands before stopping her heart. Sue enters, and cradles Carrie as she dies of her wounds.


Other media

The television series '' Riverdale'' featured an episode based on the musical, " Chapter Thirty-One: A Night to Remember", with series stars
Madelaine Petsch Madelaine Grobbelaar Petsch (born August 18, 1994) is an American and South African actress and social media personality. She is best known for portraying Cheryl Blossom on The CW television series '' Riverdale'' (2017–2023). Early life Pets ...
and
Emilija Baranac Emilija Baranac (born August 4, 1994) is a Canadian actress and model. She is known for her portrayal of Midge Klump in The CW drama series '' Riverdale'' and as Genevieve in the ''To All the Boys I've Loved Before'' film series. Life and care ...
, who played the characters
Cheryl Blossom Cheryl Marjorie Blossom is a fictional character of the Archie Comics universe. She is a wealthy and powerful teenage girl, the privileged daughter of a businessman. She is portrayed by Madelaine Petsch in ''Riverdale (American TV series), Riverd ...
and
Midge Klump Midge Klump is a fictional character appearing in Archie Comics. She frequently appears as the girlfriend of Moose Mason and the unrequited crush of Reggie Mantle. The live-action version of Midge was portrayed by Emilija Baranac in the televisio ...
as different versions of Carrie, respectively. In this story, Cheryl is a participant for the role of Carrie in the musical. However, the musical's director Kevin Keller (portrayed by
Casey Cott Casey Morton Cott (born August 8, 1992) is an American actor, known for his role as Kevin Keller on The CW series '' Riverdale''. Early life and education Cott was born in 1992, the middle of three children of Rick Cott, an investment manager ...
) had offered the role to Midge, until she was killed by the
Black Hood The Black Hood is the name of several fictional characters (Matthew/Mateo Burland, Thomas "Kip" Burland, and Gregory Hettinger) created by Archie Comics, MLJ Comics (later known as Archie Comics) during the period known as the "Golden Age of Comi ...
at the end of the episode. The music video for " Hell in the Hallways" by the American metal band
Ice Nine Kills Ice Nine Kills is an American heavy metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, who are signed to Fearless Records. Best known for its horror-inspired lyrics, Ice Nine Kills formed in its earliest incarnation in 2000 by high school friends Spenc ...
is based on the story with Isabel McGinity as Carrie. The music videos for Chicago band Common Shiner's "Social Mediasochist" and "On and On" also parody the story with Whitney Jones as Carrie. These videos also serve as
crossover Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Music Albums * ''Cross Over'' (album), a 1987 album by Dan Peek, or the title song * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'', an album by Intrigue * ''Crossover'', an album by ...
s with other horror film characters, most notably
Jason Voorhees Jason Voorhees () is a fictional character and the antagonist of the Friday the 13th (franchise), ''Friday the 13th'' series. He first appeared in ''Friday the 13th (1980 film), Friday the 13th'' (1980) as the young son of camp-cook-turned-kil ...
and Michael Myers. The music video for "
Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
", by the British singer
Jade Thirlwall Jade Amelia Thirlwall (born 26 December 1992) is an English singer. Her music career began at the age of 15, when she auditioned for ''The X Factor (British TV series), The X Factor UK'' on three occasions before rising to prominence as a member ...
, released in 2024, features a sequence based on the prom scene. The 2011 film '' Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver'' features the telekinetic character Cherry, which parodies Carrie. The
Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...
show ''
The Amazing World of Gumball ''The Amazing World of Gumball'' (also known simply as ''Gumball'' or by its abbreviation ''TAWOG''; retitled ''The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball'' beginning with its The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, seventh season) is an animated si ...
'' features a
ghost In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...
character named Carrie Krueger who is named after both Carrie and
Freddy Krueger Freddy Krueger () is a fictional character and the antagonist of the ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' horror film franchise. Created by Wes Craven, he made his debut in Craven's '' A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (1984) as the malevolent spirit of a ...
.


References

https://nerdreactor.com/2014/10/20/teen-rom-com-jason-freddy-carrie/ http://www.fridaythe13thfranchise.com/2018/08/low-carb-comedy-is-back-with-jason.html


External links


Official website for ''Carrie'' the Musical
{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Carrie Carrie (franchise) Characters in American novels of the 20th century Child characters in literature Female characters in film Female characters in literature Female characters in musical theatre Female horror film villains Female literary villains Fictional characters from Maine Fictional characters who use magic Fictional Christians Fictional female mass murderers Fictional matricides Fictional telepaths Fictional telekinetics Fictional terrorists Fictional victims of child abuse Literary characters introduced in 1974 Stephen King characters Teenage characters in film Teenage characters in literature Teenage characters in musical theatre Fictional characters with fire or heat abilities Fictional characters with earth or stone abilities