A woman who sits next to Hallorann on the flight to Denver after Danny calls him back to the Overlook Hotel. The sour-faced woman sits with a stern expression and silently reads a book, talking very little. When the plane experiences a rough landing, and a female passenger begins to scream that the plane is crashing, the sour-faced woman softens. She tells Hallorann everything will be alright and invites him for a drink when they land. Hallorann, of course, declines. He passes her at luggage claim, where she flashes him the peace sign and “shines” at him, sending him mental well wishes and positive vibes. The sour-faced woman serves to illustrate how common the shining really is in the book, and she also highlights how those who shine are drawn to one another.
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The Sour-Faced Woman Character Timeline in The Shining
The timeline below shows where the character The Sour-Faced Woman appears in The Shining. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 42: Mid-Air
...a.m., EST, Hallorann boards a plane to Denver. He takes his seat next to a sour-faced woman reading a book. At 7:05, takeoff is delayed. Hallorann curses audibly. He spent all night...
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...shine, but the message is gone, as if it is cut with a knife. The sour-faced woman in the seat next to him asks Hallorann if he always acts like this at...
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Chapter 45: Stapleton Airport, Denver
...says they will soon begin their descent, and the “NO SMOKING” light turns on. The sour-faced woman sitting next to Hallorann asks how his head is, and he says it is just...
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...get chains put on the car’s tires. Hallorann thanks the attendant and leaves, passing the sour-faced woman waiting for her suitcase. She smiles and gives Hallorann the peace sign, and he feels...
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