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
Hallorann gets to the snowmobile at the same time Wendy is dragging herself through the hallway on her way back to the room. Hallorann doesn’t want the snowmobile, just the gas can strapped to the back. Still wearing Howard’s mittens, he tries to unstrap the gas can as the lion gains on him, snarling and growling. The lion swats him across the backside, sending him flying. Bleeding, Hallorann crawls back to the snowmobile and grabs the gas can. He opens it, splashing the arms of his parka. The lion charges, and Hallorann soaks it with gasoline.
The lion is prime example of what makes the Overlook Hotel so terrifying. The lion is savage and is hell-bent on killing Hallorann. Like Wendy, Hallorann’s connection to Danny through their mutual power to shine keeps him going when it seems most unlikely.
Themes
Hallorann narrowly misses a swat from the lion and throws more gasoline at it. He rips Howard’s mitten off with his mouth, tasting gasoline, and digs in his pocket for a lighter. As the lion charges him, Hallorann strikes the lighter, and the sleeve of his parka erupts in flames. Hallorann feels no pain, and the flame travels upward, igniting the lion. He plunges his flaming arm into the snow, and brings it back up without serious damage. The lion burns, snarling and hissing.
Again, it is only fire that proves effective in killing the evil at the Overlook Hotel. Just as Jack’s father tells him when he torches the wasps’ nest, “Fire will kill anything.”
Themes
Hallorann takes the half-empty gas can back to the snowmobile and straps it on the back. He gets back on the snowmobile, and starts it up. Hallorann drives in the direction of the main gate, not knowing where the rest of the hedge animals are. He doubts he will get through the gate, but he manages to inch it open just enough to squeeze the snowmobile through. Speeding in the direction of the hotel, Hallorann sees the hedge animals lined up in front of the porch. He opens the throttle and heads straight for them, catching Jack and Wendy’s attention upstairs. Jack knows it is Hallorann, and he goes to greet him.
When Hallorann opens up the throttle of the snowmobile and charges the topiaries, Jack can hear the “insectile humming” of the snowmobile and knows that he is in trouble..
Themes
Hallorann drives through the hedge animals at top speed and barely stops the snowmobile before jumping off and running up the porch steps. He falls but picks himself up, and one of the topiaries rips the back of his parka. Hallorann reaches the doors and flies inside, calling Danny’s name. He sees blood on the stairs and runs up them, in the direction of the caretaker’s room. Jack is hiding in the elevator, and when Hallorann gets up the stairs, Jack strikes him in the back of the head with the roque mallet. Hallorann falls, bleeding, to the floor. Now, Jack says, it is time to find Danny.
Jack’s hiding spot in the elevator also carries connotations of his father, as Jack has strong memories of his father playing the “elevator game” during his childhood. As Jack’s father was an exceedingly violent man who beat Jack and the rest of his family with a cane, Jack is effectively turning into his father as he wreaks havoc with the roque mallet.
Themes
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