This is a weekly meme created by Dani @ Perspective of a Writer, to show off favourite characters. Be sure to check out their blog! This week’s topic is … favorite Stephen King character (A character from Stephen King’s creative mind that you love! It can be based upon ANY of his adaptions… Let’s prepare for the Halloween season!)

Leland Gaunt/ Needful Things

Leland was the owner of the shop Needful Things in Castle Rock, Maine. Needful Things is a shop of dreams, providing exactly what you think you need, and Leland is always happy to help. But the things Leland provides breed paranoia and obsessiveness. Leland is supposed to be the devil, but it feels more like he’s a crossroads demon from Supernatural. Leland is most definitely a nauthizi, of the runic collective of Nauthiz, embodying the aspects of necessity both of being needed, and the unbalanced aspect of addiction.

I love this book as a commentary on addiction, and on blaming others for the choices one makes, especially when they blame ‘the devil’. The citizens blame Leland for the destruction they undergo, but as he points out, he at no point makes anyone do anything. He merely holds up a mirror to the corruption within. He’s doing what nauthizi do- teach about necessity, and it’s imbalances.