The Shining Sparknotes

The Shining, written by Stephen King is an American horror novel that focuses on Jack Torrance’s life as a recovering alcoholic and his off-season job at the Overlook Hotel. Stephen King himself has struggled in the past with alcoholism and was inspired to write the novel upon his visit to the Stanley Hotel in 1974. After the novel was published in 1977, King clearly sets up his reputation specifically as an author of the horror-genre. The novel immediately received enthusiastic praise while readers became addicted to his perceptive and atrocious writing skill that opens up in all his horror novels. The Shining is written as a narrative and was developed into a film in 1980. However, much to Stephen King’s distaste, the film did not grasp the
Stuart Ullman, Jack’s interviewer is constantly reminding Torrance about “the harshness of the winter season” and that him and his family “would be cut off from the outside world for five to six months.” Ullman is severely hesitant in giving Jack the job, knowing he is a recovering alcoholic. He tells Jack of the previous caretaker, Grady, who murdered his wife and two children before taking his own life during his stay at the hotel. Jack insists that he is prepared for the job and Ullman finally gives it to him. Jack’s wife, Wendy is worried for Jack because of his uncontrollable temper while intoxicated. However, his son, Danny adores Jack and is excited for his family to be together. At the closing of the hotel, the Overlook’s chef, Dick Halloran tells Danny he has a special ability called “shining” that enables him to read minds. Halloran tells him that he also has this ability and if he ever needs help, to call him. During their stay, Danny “sees” many mysterious things around the hotel, including a constant flash of the word “Redrum” written on mirrors and Danny’s “invisible friend”, Tony, who often forces him to do things he does not want to. Danny is curious by the room 217 that Halloran strongly advised him not enter. He tries to resist, but finally enters and sees rotting corpse. Danny envisions that “Redrum” will
He does not fail to ever so intently envelop one into the mind of another. Besides its obvious horror, the novel emphasizes points on morality, character, and choices. Through reading the novel, two drastically different perspectives can be formed, both overwhelmingly terrifying and equally intriguing. Is Jack the monster, or is it just the hotel? You can choose to believe that the horror is generated from this terrifying “haunted hotel” that has Jack go crazy, or realize that at a certain point of complete isolation, it could be possible for a man to go insane and experience the real life trauma that Jack Torrance went through during his stay at The Overlook. King makes sure to build the novel precisely for any ordinary person to fill the skin of Jack Torrance. Looking from both perspectives, the novel captivates you with its suspense and thrill. King writes to make hallways feel utterly frightening and the eeriness of an empty, and dead silent hotel send shivers up your spine. However with a carefree, happy ending, the novel seems end quickly. The audience is cut short at the thought of how Danny might respond to this traumatic experience that would impact the rest of his life. But the ending luckily will be short-lived, with King’s new novel, Doctor Sleep that follows up on Danny’s life as an