Okay, so this is partly inspired by the recent Videogame Dunkey video, also inspired by my love for the film itself. As we all know, The Shining isn't a very straightforward theory, and intentionally leaves the viewer feeling uncomfortable and unsettled. At the end of the film we are left with many questions and no answers. However, I've come up with a theory that's both painfully simply, and complex.
Now let me start with this disclaimer, this is somewhat of an amalgamation of theories, and my own. I'll put some links when I'm done so you can see where I got my info from. Now, lets begin.
I believe the main overarching allegory is simply about escaping domestic abuse, with much deeper subtext supporting it. Now you may say this is obvious, but I've only ever heard this mentioned once, and that was in the Dunkey video. Usually you hear it's an allegory for genocide, or a confession by Kubrick about faking the moon landing, or that Jack isn't real, all of which I believe think too hard into it. Simply it's about escaping harsh domestic abuse, especially in isolated environments. The evidence to support this is pretty obvious, as Jack literally tries to murder his family. However, there's some deeper evidence as well. We know that he's physically abusive towards Danny, an example being the infamous arm pulling story, but I think that there's sexual abuse involved as well. This theory I first saw on ScreenPrism, and proposes that Jack is also sexually abusive. Let's look at some evidence, starting with the famous bear-felatio scene. Inspired from the book, there's the famous scene where Wendy runs up the stairs, very frightened, and sees a man dressed as a bear felate a man in a tuxedo. It's a very bizarre scene, but if we look at some symbolism we can find a meaning. This scene can be interpreted as Wendy being confronted with the sexually abusive relationship between father and son. Let me elaborate. In the beginning of the movie, Danny is being examined by a doctor, and is laying on a bear shaped pillow with his hands covering his private parts, he's wearing no pants. Also, in his room in the overlook is the portrait of a bear. We also can infer that Jack is sexually frustrated. He reads a magazine with an article about incest, he never wears a wedding ring, and he checks out other women right next to his wife. Also, lets talk about the room 237 scene. I believe Jack harmed Dany in that room, and the visions he sees are the physical manifestation of his filthy acts. Jack has an intimate moment with someone who is far too young for him, then the person rots right in front of him, a symbol of both the rotting nature of his abuse, and the toll it'll take on Dany. If all of this is taken into account, it can be interpreted that Jack is probably abusive towards Danny. With all of this considered, it's clear that Jack is a terrible man. With all of this, we can paint a picture on why he went insane, but more on that later.
Now I want to talk about the literal ability to Shine. I believe four major players can shine, Danny, Dick, the Overlook and Jack. Danny and Dick we know, but lets look at the latter two. Dick says that both people and places can shine, and some people can shine without knowing it. I believe the Overlook can shine, and it uses this to confront people with their fears. Danny with the dead girls, Wendy with the Bear man and Jack with the old woman. It also amplifies Jacks darker tendencies, and gives him an outlet to unleash his demons. This can be scene with the ballroom gala scene. Now to be clear, I don't believe the Overlook turned a good man bad, but only gave a bad man an outlet to crack. Now lets examine Jack, who I believe can shine. My evidence is the scene when the freezer door opens up, allowing him to escape to terrorize his family. It's implied that it's supernatural forces, mainly Mr. Grady, but I believe that they are simply the demons and voices within Jack's head, and they manifest in his hallucinations. Unknowingly, he let himself out using his shining abilities. I also believe the Overlook amplifies these demons and his hallucinations, and brings out his violent tendencies. However, I want to talk about the famous Grady scene, a moment I believe sends Jack irreparably down his murderous path.
Jack hallucinates a massive gala in the ballroom, and this is where is demons gather. Lloyd loosens him up, gets him to indulge in his vices with a calm demeanor and smile. He also says the drinks are "on the house", and leaves it at that. I interpret this as the Overlook trying to get Jack to embrace his alcoholism, and it works. The House of being the Overlook, further wearing down his mental state. Then we have the famous Grady scene in the bathroom. I believe this to be the part where Jack's demons finally convince him to murder his family. He must "correct" them, for they are being disobedient. Also, I want to talk about the exchange that roughly goes, "Mr Grady, you were the caretaker here." To which Grady responds, "No sir, you have always been the caretaker." This is a peculiar line, but I suggest we don't take it literally. Think about this, the movie pretty much makes care taker synonymous with danger. The care taker Grady murders his family, Jack tries to murder his family, thats 0-2. So lets replace "caretaker" with "dangerous". "Weren't you dangerous Mr. Grady?" ti which he responds, "No sir, you've always been dangerous." His demons finally corrupt him, taking the form of a cool bartender, and the murderous Grady.
Now I want to talk about what Dick Halloran says about room 237. He warns Danny not to go in there, but not because of what has happened, but what will happen. Dick can sense, or knows, that something bad will happen to Dany, and wants him to stay away. He knows that evil lies within the room, the evil of his father. This scene is crucial in laying out this theory, especially with what Dick says to Dany.
Now lets talk about Grady, who I believe Jack wanted to use as a story, but got consumed by it. The Grady tale took a hold of Jack, manifesting in the form a demon that convinces his family. Jack has newspaper clipping near his typewriter, most likely articles about the Grady murders. This plays into why Jack goes crazy, which leads me to my last point.
Jack went crazy because he's an abusive alcoholic who cracked under the pressure of isolation, sexual frustration, writers block and being consumed by the violent murders of his predecessor. In the end, he explodes and tries to kill his family in a story about domestic abuse and how it can be hard to escape, and how it takes a harsh toll on all of those involved. Thank you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU1hnE6klVw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpNcO4zuttU
TLDR; An allegory for Domestic abuse with supernatural subtext that explains the deteriorating mental state of Jack.
Submitted September 04, 2017 at 06:21PM by thegoodboyy http://ift.tt/2w0D07Y
No comments:
Post a Comment