Moral Choice, Human Will, and the Philosophy of Survival in Stephen King’s The Mist

This article looks at how moral choice, human will, and the philosophy of survival are portrayed in Stephen King’s novella The Mist. Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction lets us see how people behave under extreme pressure, so the study focuses on the moral problems that individuals and communities face when social order breaks down. The research uses textual analysis, character analysis, and a comparative literary-philosophical approach. It asks three questions: How does an unknown danger affect the characters’ moral decisions? How are fear, personal will, and group behaviour connected? How does the novella show the conflict between physical survival and moral responsibility?The theoretical framework combines Uzbek literary criticism, which offers ideas about character, artistic conflict, and literary representation, with philosophical ideas about freedom, responsibility, and human solidarity. The study treats the opposition between David Drayton and Mrs. Carmody as the central conflict of the novella. In our view, this opposition shows two ways of facing danger. David relies on observation and care for others, while Carmody uses fear to gain power over the group.The results show that a shared threat does not always bring people together. Uncertainty can weaken independent thinking and lead a community to distrust and conflict. The study also finds that human will is not good or bad in itself, and its meaning depends on the values and goals behind it. We therefore conclude that The Mist presents survival as a physical struggle and also as a test of human values.