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
At the Red Arrow Lodge in the mountains of Maine, Hallorann checks on the salads and appetizers. The dinner rush will soon hit. His job here is good, it hasn’t been too taxing, and the season is already half over. He goes outside to the row of cabins situated around the lake. The last cabin is the nicest, and he reserved it for Wendy and Danny way back in April when he was hired. Wendy sits on the porch now, her back rigid and straight on account of the brace. Her spine is broken and slowly healing.
In relocating to Maine, Hallorann seems to get as far away as he can from Colorado and the Overlook Hotel. Hallorann and Danny’s connection on account of their shining has continued even though their ordeal is over. Danny and Hallorann now have a lasting connection, much like family.
Themes
Wendy looks older to Hallorann, and her eyes don’t have the laughter they once did. She greets him warmly as he approaches and goes to stand. He tells her not to and smiles. The shrimp creole is good tonight, he says. He asks where Danny is, and Wendy points to the dock, where Danny sits alone, fishing. She says Danny only had one dream this week, which is an improvement. Hallorann reassures Wendy that Danny will just fine, but sometimes Wendy isn’t so sure.
Danny and Wendy are healing both physically and mentally after their winter at the Overlook. Hallorann tells Wendy multiple times in just a few pages that Danny will be just fine. This implies that Hallorann had a vision and knows from the shining that Danny will be okay.
Themes
Wendy tells Hallorann that she is going to take the job Al Shockley offered her in Maryland. Maryland looks like a nice place to raise Danny, and she doesn’t want to spend too much more of Jack’s insurance money. She still has over half of it. Wendy asks Hallorann if he will forget them, but Hallorann replies that Danny won’t let him. He tells her again that they will be alright and reminds her about the creole.
Like his father, Jack was heavily insured. He was insured at $40,000 with a double payout because he died in a fire, so Wendy still has over $40,000. Additionally, Al Shockley is still looking out for them even after Jack’s death, suggesting that he feels guilty about the entire situation at the Overlook.
Themes
Hallorann reminds Danny that if things ever get too hard, he can just call him, and Hallorann will come running. Danny agrees and promises to come and visit Hallorann again next summer, when he is seven. Hallorann looks to Danny’s fishing pole, and tells him that he has a bite. Danny yells happily and starts reeling. As Danny brings in the fish, Hallorann and Wendy sit next to him, laughing in the sunshine.
Wendy promised Danny while at the Overlook that they would go fishing in the spring, and she fulfills her promise here, with the exception of having Jack with them. The image of Wendy and Hallorann, now close friends, sitting in the sunshine as Danny fishes is incredibly optimistic. It suggests that Wendy and Danny have finally found happiness and a bright future.
Themes
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