Ego vs.

Sanity
I believe in the theory that ​The Shining​ is about how an ego can ruin a family reputation
by corrupting the mind. I don’t think that Jack was ever haunted or had issues with anything
realistic to that sense. I believe that the moment he got the job and moved his family up to the
mountains, he got an ego boost, making him feel absolutely great about himself. This ego boost
eventually overtook his mind, making him believe there was something supernatural and
haunting going about the hotel. This effect in his mind, took tolls on his family as well, because
they were all constantly around one another. The “hauntings” eventually pushed his family into a
state of betrayal from him, willing to murder one another all because his ego got the best of him,
and took over his mind causing him to go insane.
In the back of Jack’s mind, since he knows of the previous “haunting” stories of the hotel,
he mixes it with his ego and makes it become more and more realistic to himself throughout
time. “The feeling of claustrophobia is externalized as dislike for the people you happen to be
shut in with.” “He killed them, Mr. Torrence, and then committed suicide. He murdered the little
girls with a hatchet, his wife with a shotgun, and himself the same way ( King, 12).” Ullman
expressed this story to Jack in hopes of informing him of several consequences that could come
from taking this job. Jack and his family will have to be entrapped within this hotel for a period of
time, which Ullman was trying to explain to cause and insanity through claustrophobia.
Jack attempts to explain, going into page 13, that the mistake of Ullman’s previous
employee going insane, was due to him not being an educated individual. Jack thinks that
because he has things of his own to work on , as well as the rest of the family, they will not get
bored and go after one another. “A stupid man is more prone to cabin fever just as he’s more
prone to shoot someone over a card game or commit a spur-of-the-moment robbery. He gets
bored (King, 13). “ My wife and I both like to read. I have a play to work on, as Al Shockley
probably told you. Danny has his puzzles, his coloring books, and his crystal radio (King. 13).
Jack has faith that his family will not get so bored to turn on one another and go crazy
throughout the season of his work and captivity in the hotel.
Throughout the novel, the ideas that Jack has been given throughout begin to get to his
head. Pushing him closer and closer to the edge. The stories are real and fake all once, suading
his mind to either believe in insanity or staying sane, as long as him and his family stay
occupied. The less you have to do and keep you going throughout the job, the quicker your
mind will become loose and lost in life and start insanity and hallucinations among the others
you are with. This starting to kindle in Jack’s mind along with mixing itself in with his high ego
from picking up the job, begins to cause some issues.
Then comes Jack’s ego, along with the best friend Al. “I just called to say thanks. I got
the job. It’s perfect.If I can’t finish that goddamn play snowed in all winter, I’ll never finish it
(King,62). “ Even after all of the issues that Jack had ran into, he was still able to get a job in the
middle of nowhere. This most likely boosted his ego to heights too high. He lost his job due to a
violence action with a kid. Had a mishap with a drinking and driving incident. Yet he still
manages to get a new, decent job. I feel that this most definitely added to his ego boost.
“Something like that, honey. Your daddy hit George to make him stop cutting the tires and
George hit his head. Then the men who are in charge of the school said that George couldn’t go
there anymore and your daddy couldn’t teach there anymore (King, 19).” This was how Jack
started off his downward fall. Stranded on the wrong path of life and gathered in alcohol for his
actions. All occurring because of a kid upset over a team position.
“The bike was completely ruined. One wheel was gone, and looking back over his
shoulder Al had seen it lying in the middle of the road, half a dozen spokes sticking up like piano
wire. Al had said hesitantly: “I think that’s what we ran over, Jacky-boy.” ( King, 57). This
accident was caused from actions, not needed. Jack was an alcoholic, but like anyone else he
didn’t want to admit that. “He hadn’t believed he was an alcoholic, Jack thought as Al’s
telephone began ringing in his ear (King, 55). He was an alcoholic though, and he needed to
stop. The accident could have ended a lot worse than just a broken bike. I believe that this
incident made a huge impact with his ego, letting him think that he was invincible from
consequences he should have had.
It wouldn’t be the first time that a man’s ego had gotten the best of him. If you think back
to a very well-known children’s movie, Shrek, you think of Lord Farquaad. He was so high
standard, and self-centered. Never had to deal with consequences or reactions from his actions.
Just sat high on his throne and watched over everyone else. Just like the man he thought was
invincible and could do anything he wanted.
All of this ego and “haunting” stories that Jack had gained/heard, contributed to losing
his sanity. In conclusion was it really just a haunted hotel or a mixture of things that shouldn’t
have been mixed. His ego got the best of him and his thoughts of the “haunting” stories took
over his mind. When they both mixed together it just caused a chemical reaction leading to his
insanity and the turning of each other in the family. Could it be that when you put a family into a
hotel in the middle of nowhere, snowed in for an entire season and a half, they turn on each
other. Is it a coincidence or inevitable? Can you really survive that long with each other and not
losing your sanity.

MLA Citations

KING, STEPHEN. ​The Shining ​. ANCHOR, 2013.

“Shrek.” Dreamworks Animation LLC., 2006.