9 Amazing Inspirations Behind Your Favourite Stephen King Books

5. Carrie Was Inspired By Two Girls King Knew During High School (And Also The Bible)

According to King, the character of Carrie was the amalgamation of two girls he knew while studying at high school. It's hardly surprising that the inspiration came from that period of his life: Carrie is very much about female empowerment and sexuality, and male anxiety in reaction to those changes. Carrie was also inspired by the story of Samson as told in Judges in the Old Testament, in which a man with incredible god-given physical strength. As even the most casual of Bible fans will know, the key to his power is his hair - a secret he divulges to the wrong person and is shorn of his locks and imprisoned. When his powers (and hair) return he takes revenge by pulling the castle down from the inside, killing his enemies and himself in the process. The most iconic scene in Carrie is inspired by this tale, as Carrie decides to kill everyone in her school by trapping them inside and starting a massive fire.