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Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Shining, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fear, the Paranormal, and Reality
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining
Family
Isolation and Insanity
Alcoholism and Abuse
Time
Summary
Analysis
Wendy looks out the window of the Torrances’ Boulder, Colorado apartment. Danny is sitting in the street below, waiting for Jack to return in the family’s rundown old Volkswagen. Wendy silently curses Jack and his pride. Al Shockley had offered a pay advance, but Jack refused. She hates the Boulder apartment compared to their small but nice house in Stovington. The Boulder apartment is old and dirty, and they must listen to the man in the next apartment beat his wife. None of it, Wendy thinks, is good for Danny.
The Torrances seem to be under considerable financial strain since Jack lost his job, which adds a layer of stress to Jack and Wendy’s marriage. Their new living situation in Boulder further compounds this stress, since Wendy worries about Danny living around filth and violence. The fact that Jack refused Al’s offer shows that he is more concerned with maintaining his pride than with providing for his family.
Themes
Feeling an immense sense of grief, Wendy goes outside and sits next to Danny on the curb. “What’s up, doc?” she asks. Jack won’t be back until dinner, she reminds Danny. It is a long drive up the mountain. Danny asks Wendy if she thinks the VW will break down, and she says no, although she secretly isn’t convinced. Danny then asks why Jack lost his job back in Stovington. Wendy explains that Jack was the school’s debate coach, and that after he cut a student, George Hatfield, from the team, George got angry and slashed the tires on Jack’s VW. Wendy stops, and Danny asks if Jack hurt George Hatfield the same way he hurt Danny.
Wendy’s sense of grief and unhappiness is front and center throughout the novel, as she misses her old life in Stovington and perhaps what her marriage and family situation used to be like. The revelation that Jack has hurt Danny sheds additional light onto Jack’s issues with anger and alcoholism—he clearly has a violent side.
Themes
Wendy tells Danny that Jack hit George to make him stop cutting the tires, and the school said they didn’t want him to be a teacher there anymore. She changes the subject and asks Danny if he wants some milk and cookies. Danny says he would rather wait outside, since Jack might return home early. As Wendy goes inside, Danny asks her if she wants to go live at the hotel. Wendy says she does, if that is what Jack wants, and she asks Danny if he wants to live there. Danny supposes he does. Plus, there isn’t anyone to play with in Boulder anyway. Wendy feels a pang of guilt for taking Danny away from his friends and goes inside. In the kitchen, she puts out a plate of Oreos, then goes to bed and cries.
This chapter’s revelations about George and Danny clear up Jack and Ullman’s conversation at the Overlook: Ullman was hesitant to hire Jack because he has a history of unprofessionalism, violence, and alcohol abuse. Jack’s abuse of Danny and his assault of George are likely major sources of guilt for him, which could perhaps explain why he feels defensive of his pride and resentful of others. This guilt affects Wendy, as well, and it's unclear why she’s decided to stay with Jack even though he’s a danger to Danny—perhaps she felt forced to, out of financial necessity. Nevertheless, Wendy clearly feels awful for uprooting Danny out of Stovington and into this new and less desirable life.
Themes
