The Man Who Loved Flowers

“The Man Who Loved Flowers,” a short story by American horror writer Stephen King, follows a young man’s journey on his quest to meet Norma, the love of his life. Published first in August 1977 in Gallery, an adult magazine, it was later included in 1978’s Night Shift, King’s first collection of short stories. King weaves a thriller that juxtaposes The Joy of Young Love with The Brutality of Love Lost. In doing so, he explores the Nostalgia of looking back at youthful courtship from a place of reverie. King also reveals how a man, whose grief has manifested in psychological symptoms, masks his true self as he searches in vain for a love that will never return.

This guide refers to a digital version of the text that is freely available from PBworks.

Content Warning: The text and study guide contain violence attributed to undiagnosed psychosis.

In May 1963, a young man walks down New York City’s Third Avenue to meet Norma. The air is “soft and beautiful” (Paragraph 1), and as the spring day shifts to evening, onlookers experience nostalgia while watching the young man. An old woman recognizes “that look about him” (Paragraph 3); she calls out, “Hey beautiful!” (Paragraph 1), referencing the young man’s elevated mood that onlookers are sure is a result of love. In deference to the old woman’s kindness, the young man raises “his hand in half-salute” (Paragraph 3).

The young man meets an old flower vendor who also remembers the joy of young love. A radio on the vendor’s cart state’s the day’s news: A hammer murderer is on the loose, the US is soon to intervene in the Vietnam War, and Russia has tested a nuclear weapon. This information goes unnoticed, however: Spring is too beautiful to dwell on bad news. The young man looks troubled when he touches something in his coat pocket. However, his smile quickly returns as he decides a gift of flowers will make Norma’s “eyes light up with surprise and joy” (Paragraph 7). The vendor recognizes the young man is in love and offers advice on the kind of flowers that are likely to impress Norma. Although he is not a wealthy man, the protagonist buys tea roses, the most expensive flowers on the stall. The vendor gives parting advice on how to preserve the life of the roses. The radio weather forecast predicts a beautiful night, “perfect for a little rooftop stargazing, if you’re the romantic type” (Paragraph 29), while the Four Seasons sing “Sherry” in the background.

The young man continues walking, largely unaware of his surroundings. He passes by families and children and women and men and traffic officers, all of whom are reveling in the beauty of the spring day. Some people stop to watch the young man, struck by his aura of being in love.

As the young man turns down 73rd Street and daylight fades, he slows his gait, expecting to see Norma. When she finally emerges, he smiles, quickening his step to present her with the flowers. However, as he draws closer, the woman shows no signs of recognition. The young man wonders briefly if the darkening sky is playing tricks with his eyes. He hands the woman the tea roses, but she hands them back, saying, “Thank you, but you are mistaken […] My name is—” (Paragraph 45).

The young man interrupts her, calling her Norma. Without warning, he reaches into his coat pocket and brandishes a hammer. The terrified young woman has no time to scream. As the flowers drop to the ground and spill across the dark street, the narration reveals that Norma has been dead for 10 years. The young man swings the hammer over and over, “as he had done five other times” (Paragraph 48).

The young man puts the hammer back in his pocket and slips away from “the dark shadow sprawled on the cobblestones” (Paragraph 49), finally admitting that the woman he just assaulted wasn’t Norma. However, he resumes his search, remembering that his name is “Love” (Paragraph 50). While, this time, his love was unrequited, he will one day recapture what he lost. His smile returns and, in the darkness of the evening, he retraces his route, looking for Norma. Random onlookers watch the young man walking, seeing “young love” (Paragraph 296).