Introduction
The Shining is a horror novel by the American author Stephen King, published in 1977. It is one of King’s most famous and acclaimed works and one of the best-selling books of all time. The novel tells the story of Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic and aspiring writer, who accepts a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, a secluded and haunted resort in the Colorado Rockies. He moves there with his wife, Wendy, and his son, Danny, who has psychic abilities that allow him to see the hotel’s dark past and present. The novel explores themes such as isolation, madness, addiction, and family. My overall evaluation of the book is that it is a masterpiece of horror fiction, with a captivating plot, complex characters, and a chilling atmosphere. However, it also has some flaws, such as a slow pace, a confusing ending, and a controversial adaptation.
Summary
The novel begins with Jack Torrance, who is interviewed by Stuart Ullman, the manager of the Overlook Hotel, who offers him the job of the winter caretaker. Jack accepts, hoping to use the time and the solitude to work on his writing and to mend his relationship with his family, which has been strained by his alcoholism and his temper. He also learns that the hotel has a history of violence and death and that the previous caretaker, Delbert Grady, killed his wife and two daughters, and then committed suicide.
The novel then shifts to the perspective of Danny Torrance, Jack’s five-year-old son, who has a psychic gift called “the shining”, which allows him to see and communicate with ghosts and other supernatural entities. He is visited by Dick Hallorann, the hotel’s cook, who also has the shining, and who warns him about the hotel’s evil and dangerous nature, especially room 217, where a woman died in the bathtub. He also tells him to contact him telepathically if he needs help.
The novel then follows the Torrances, who move into the hotel, and who are cut off from the outside world by a snowstorm. They soon begin to experience strange and terrifying phenomena, such as moving topiary animals, phantom voices, and visions of the hotel’s past guests and events. Jack becomes increasingly obsessed and paranoid, influenced by the hotel’s malevolent force, which wants him to kill his family and join the hotel’s ghosts. Wendy becomes fearful and protective, trying to keep her family safe and sane. Danny becomes the target and the key, as he is the most powerful and the most vulnerable, and he is the only one who can stop the hotel’s evil.
The novel then reaches its climax, when Jack, who has been corrupted and possessed by the hotel, attacks Wendy and Danny with a roque mallet, a croquet-like game tool. Wendy manages to injure Jack and lock him in the pantry, but he is freed by the hotel’s ghosts, who also disable the hotel’s boiler, which is about to explode. Danny confronts Jack, who briefly regains his sanity and tells him to run away. Danny then contacts Hallorann, who has arrived at the hotel with a snowmobile, and who helps Wendy and Danny escape. Jack, who is overtaken by the hotel again, tries to stop them, but he is killed by the boiler’s explosion, which also destroys the hotel.
The novel ends with Wendy, Danny, and Hallorann, who have survived the ordeal but are traumatized and scarred. They move to Florida, where they try to recover and rebuild their lives. Danny still sees the hotel’s ghosts, but he learns to cope with them. He also sees a vision of his father, who smiles and waves at him.
Critique
The strengths of the book are many, such as:
The writing style: King’s prose is engaging, vivid, and descriptive, creating a sense of immersion and suspense. He also uses various techniques, such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, symbolism, and metafiction, to enrich the narrative and explore different perspectives and themes.
The structure: The novel’s structure, which is divided into five parts and 54 chapters, creates a clear and coherent progression of the story, from the introduction to the climax to the resolution. It also builds up the tension and the mystery, as the reader gradually learns more about the hotel and its secrets.
The tone: The novel’s tone is dark, grim, and horrifying, reflecting the nature of the hotel and its influence. However, it also has moments of humor, warmth, and hope, especially in the scenes involving the Torrances and their family. The tone balances the horror and the humanity, making the reader care about the characters and their fate.
The credibility: The novel’s credibility is enhanced by the extensive research and detail that King put into the book, such as the history and the layout of the hotel, the references to other works of literature and culture, and the realistic portrayal of the characters and their situations. The novel also draws from King’s own experiences and influences, such as his alcoholism, his writing, and his stay at the Stanley Hotel, which inspired the Overlook.
The originality: The novel’s originality lies in its concept and execution, as it combines elements of horror, psychological, and supernatural, creating a unique and complex story that transcends the boundaries of genre. The novel also introduces one of the most iconic and memorable characters in literature, the Overlook Hotel, which is a living and evil entity that has a personality and a history.
The relevance: The novel’s relevance is evident in its exploration of universal and timeless themes, such as isolation, madness, addiction, and family. The novel also addresses social and personal issues, such as domestic violence, child abuse, racism, and sexism, showing how they affect the characters and society. The novel also resonates with contemporary culture, as it has inspired numerous adaptations and references in media, such as the 1980 film, the 1997 miniseries, the 2013 sequel, and the 2019 film Doctor Sleep.
The weaknesses of the book are few, but significant, such as:
The pace: The novel’s pace, which is slow and steady, can be boring and tedious for some readers, especially those who are used to King’s faster and more action-packed works. The novel also contains some scenes and passages that are redundant, irrelevant, or excessive, such as the descriptions of Jack’s writing, Wendy’s reading, and Danny’s playing. The novel could have been shorter and tighter, without losing its essence and impact.
The ending: The novel’s ending, which is the culmination and resolution of the story, can be confusing and unsatisfying for some readers, especially those who are looking for a more clear and hopeful outcome. The ending involves the death of Jack and the hotel, and the survival of Wendy, Danny, and Hallorann, but it also leaves some loose ends and unanswered questions, such as the origin and the purpose of the hotel, the nature and the extent of Danny’s powers, and the future and the well-being of the survivors, among others, which are not only unresolved, but also unexplored and unexplained. The ending could have been more conclusive and satisfying, without losing its ambiguity and complexity.
The adaptation: The novel’s adaptation, which is the 1980 film directed by Stanley Kubrick, can be disappointing and frustrating for some readers, especially those who are loyal and faithful to the book. The adaptation changes and omits many aspects and elements of the book, such as the characters, the events, the themes, and the tone, creating a different and divergent version of the story. The adaptation also contradicts and criticizes the book, such as the portrayal of Jack as a villain, the reduction of Wendy to a victim, the removal of the hotel’s backstory, and the alteration of the ending, creating a conflict and controversy between the book and the film. The adaptation could have been more respectful and faithful, without losing its creativity and vision.
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