61 pages 2 hours read

Stephen King

Under the Dome

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Symbols & Motifs

Currency: Food, Fuel, and Information

After the townspeople of Chester’s Mill realize that they are totally cut off from the outside world, the kinds of currency available to them become limited and specialized. Money no longer has much meaning, for example, but food, propane, and information become vitally important. Big Jim Rennie understands this well, and it drives his decisions to cease alcohol sales, close the grocery stores, and shut down his methamphetamine operation: In the first two cases, he can leverage his power by doling out alcohol and food rations to those he deems sufficiently loyal; controlling the food supply specifically will garner him power over the entire populace. He also uses the closing of Food City as an opportunity to incite a riot, striking more fear into the hearts of The Mill’s residents and, thus, creating a crowd receptive to his tyrannical brand of leadership. He notes that “the fear he sees on most faces may not be such a bad thing” (438), as it allows him to assuage their fears in his role as leader. People value food, and with Rennie in charge of that resource, people inevitably value him.

Shuttering his drug operation means that he can retrieve the propane tanks to control the power supply to the rest of the town, as well.

Related Titles

By Stephen King

Plot Summary

logo

Bag of Bones

Stephen King

Bag of Bones

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Billy Summers

Stephen King

Billy Summers

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Children of the Corn

Stephen King

Children of the Corn

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Different Seasons

Stephen King

Different Seasons

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Doctor Sleep

Stephen King

Doctor Sleep

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Dolores Claiborne

Stephen King

Dolores Claiborne

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Elevation

Stephen King

Elevation: A Novel

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

End of Watch

Stephen King

End of Watch

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Fairy Tale

Stephen King

Fairy Tale

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Finders Keepers

Stephen King

Finders Keepers

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Firestarter

Stephen King

Firestarter

Stephen King

Plot Summary

logo

From a Buick 8

Stephen King

From a Buick 8

Stephen King

Plot Summary

logo

Full Dark, No Stars

Stephen King

Full Dark, No Stars

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Gerald's Game

Stephen King

Gerald's Game

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Gwendy's Button Box

Stephen King, Richard Chizmar

Gwendy's Button Box

Stephen King, Richard Chizmar