Study of Characters’ Behaviors in Dark Matter based on Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory

Blake Crouch, a famous American suspense writer, enjoys great reputation in the circle of novel for his successful depiction of characters in Dark Matter, his masterpiece. The choices made by the characters in this novel are in a sense driven by desires, which are formed by different psychological needs in different environments. Based on Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory, the research aims to analyze characters’ behaviors, to interpret incentives of protagonists and to reveal Blake’s insistence for his creed of “living in the moment”. Through the interwoven fates of these characters, Crouch reveals the ultimate paradox within the multiverse narrative: the meaning of life lies not in choosing infinite possibilities, but in the courage to anchor one’s existence within the finite reality. When technology grants humans the power to rewrite their destinies, “living in the present” transforms from passive compromise into an active choice-one that confronts the fluidity of hierarchical needs and embraces the inherent incompleteness of life. This interpretation not only deconstructs Maslow’s hierarchy of needs through a literary lens but also offers a gentle response to the anxieties of contemporary society.