Summary

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Jack Torrance, once a college professor and aspiring writer, takes a job as a caretaker at a secluded mountain hotel in Colorado to provide for his family. However, Jack's life is in turmoil; he mirrors the abusive tendencies of his father, mistreats his wife Wendy and their young son Danny, and struggles with alcoholism. After losing his teaching post at Stovington University, the only position available to him is at the Overlook Hotel, closed for the winter, where his duties include maintaining the furnaces and repairing any damages. Relieved by the simplicity of the job, he hopes to finally focus on writing a play that has been occupying his thoughts for a year.

Arrival at the Overlook

Upon the family's arrival, the sense of unease slowly unfolds. Dick Hallorann, the hotel's cook, prepares to leave for the season and takes Wendy and Danny through the kitchen. He shares a unique connection with Danny, communicating telepathically, and acknowledges their shared psychic abilities. Hallorann confides in Danny about his own powers and offers his assistance, urging Danny to reach out if ever in need.

First Signs of Trouble

Early in their stay, Jack's inspection of the hotel roof leads to the discovery of a wasp nest. Recalling a childhood memory of having an empty wasp nest, he decides to give it to Danny as a keepsake. After ensuring the nest is empty, Jack places it in Danny’s room. Nevertheless, the wasps return, and Danny suffers stings in his sleep, marking the beginning of the bizarre incidents that plague the Torrance family.

Haunted Grounds

Occupying his time with outdoor tasks, Jack notices the hotel's topiary animals appear to creep toward him. While he initially dismisses these sightings as figments of his imagination, Jack battles the surreal occurrences within the hotel's eerie, vacant spaces. His resolve is tested, but he manages to resist the temptation of alcohol despite the strange happenings.

The Hotel's Dark Influence

As winter grips the hotel, Jack senses the underlying threat but refuses to abandon his post out of pride. The Overlook, steeped in the malevolence of its past inhabitants, becomes an insidious presence, exploiting Jack's vulnerability to alcohol to ensnare him. The bar, once barren, mysteriously refills with gin, enticing Jack to indulge and succumb to the hotel's wicked intents.

Family Struggles Amidst Chaos

Wendy and Danny face their own fears as Jack spirals. Wendy, acutely aware of her husband's violent outbursts, worries about Danny's safety, haunted by the memory of Jack breaking Danny's arm in a fit of rage. Her fear is not without merit, as she anxiously anticipates the moment when Jack might become a threat to them both.

Danny's "Shining"

Gifted with psychic abilities, Danny senses the hotel’s ominous aura. The Overlook ensnares him with its malevolent secrets, and Danny encounters the lingering spirits of those who perished within its confines. The boy is nearly strangled by the specter of a woman who took her own life, and he witnesses the bloodstained walls of a room where a mobster met a violent end.

The Final Confrontation

The narrative reaches its terrifying peak as Jack, fully possessed by the hotel’s sinister forces, attempts to murder his family with a mallet. Yet, Danny taps into his psychic power, reaching the remnants of Jack's paternal love, forcing Jack to halt his attack. In a moment of clarity, Jack turns on himself, leading to his demise. Despite their injuries, Wendy and Danny escape the inferno that consumes the Overlook when its boiler explodes, mirroring the eruption of the evil it harbored.

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