The Last Rung on the Ladder

Larry states, “I couldn’t believe that my sister and the beaten woman who signed ‘Kitty’ in a circle at the bottom of her letters were really the same person. My sister was a girl with pigtails, still without breasts” (304). Why does he have such a hard time reconciling the adult Katrina with the young Kitty?

Compare the story to The Eyes of the Dragon, a novel in which King also uses the motif of a character saving someone by cushioning their fall. How does that motif develop in the novel, and how does it compare to the events of the story?

Read one of the stories from Night Shift that fits more clearly in the horror genre, such as “Graveyard Shift” or “Night Surf.” Compare it to “The Last Rung on the Ladder.” How is it similar or different in tone, imagery, or message?

Although Larry is estranged from his ex-wife and has not had meaningful contact with his sister in years, he still has a relationship with his father, indicated by the fact that he considers calling his father after he receives Katrina’s letter. He ultimately decides against it because of his father’s health, showing consideration and selflessness that did not appear in his adult relationship with Katrina. Why is the relationship with his father different?

Larry’s skill as a lawyer and Katrina’s beauty both seem like positive traits, and yet these traits lead each of them to unhappiness. What does this suggest about where one can find true happiness?

Compare the setting where Katrina and Larry grow up, a farm outside of Omaha, Nebraska, with Los Angeles, where Katrina is living when she dies. What feeling does each evoke, and how does this help convey the theme or message of the story?

The mother is noticeably absent from the story, even before she dies. What do the few mentions of their mother suggest about her character? Was she important to the family? Why was her death significant? Support your answer with examples from the text.

The story never provides Larry and Katrina’s last name. Why might this be, and how does it reflect the story’s themes?