Fear is a common theme in King’s work, appearing in most of his novels and short stories—especially the effect of fear on the human psyche. Lester’s narrative is driven by fear (his own and that of his children), and he reacts to it in several ways throughout the story. His final confrontation with the Boogeyman represents him ultimately succumbing to fear entirely.

At the beginning of Lester’s story, his greatest fear seems to be that Denny will grow up to be a “sissy.” He worries that his son will be spoiled and neurotic due to coddling and overprotection. When Denny claims to have seen a boogeyman, Lester is annoyed that someone taught his son about this frightening concept. In an attempt to toughen his children up, he employs harsh tactics, ignoring their anxieties and making them sleep without a nightlight. His urge to eliminate fear in his children suggests that Lester despises himself for his own fears. As he asserts to Dr. Harper, “If a kid doesn’t get over being afraid of the dark when he’s little, he never gets over it” (102). Lester’s narrative reveals him to be harbor many fears that have their roots in childhood.