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
Jack goes down into the kitchen where Danny and Wendy are waiting and stands there staring at them. There is nothing in room 217, Jack says. It is totally empty. He smiles at Danny and Wendy until he feels them relax a bit and thinks that he has never needed a drink more in his entire life.
Jack’s craving for a drink reflects his stress and terror. He knows there is something in room 217, but he lies to Wendy and Danny. Given Jack’s ruthless desire to punish Danny, it’s unclear at this point whether he wants to protect and comfort Danny and Wendy, or simply to keep them in the dark.
Themes
