How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"During our first winter I hired a family instead of a single man. There was tragedy. A horrible tragedy." (1.45)
The tragedy in question is Delbert Grady's murder of his wife and daughters. This mention is our first clue that the Overlook hates families and gains power from destroying them.
Quote #2
The greatest terror of Danny's life was DIVORCE, a word that always appeared in his mind as a sign painted in red letters which were covered in hissing, poisonous snakes." (4.6)
Danny's fear of divorce contributes to the tragedy. Unfortunately, his fear of DIVORCE is greater than his fear of REDRUM. For one thing REDRUM is something inconceivable to Danny's innocent mind. Having both a mommy and a daddy is pretty much the most important thing in his life.
Quote #3
It had been that way after Daddy had punished him for messing up the papers in his study and the doctor had to put his arm in a cast. That memory had already faded, but the memory of the DIVORCE thoughts was clear and terrifying. (4.6)
Do you think this passage is realistic, in terms of the way a child might view a relatively isolated incidence of abuse by an otherwise loving and loveable parent?
Quote #4
Things had been very good six months ago. […] He and Wendy had begun to talk cautiously about finding a house and making a down payment in a year or so. (5.14)
Before the George Hatfield incident, Jack seems to have been doing alright. He was on the wagon and working hard to overcome his inner demons. Jack is trying his best repair the damage his violent temper has done to his family. Unfortunately, stopping drinking doesn't stop the rage. So, the family is still in jeopardy.
Quote #5
The wedding. Her father had been there. Her mother had not been. She found she could live with that, if she had Jack. And then Danny had come. Her fine son. (6.18)
Interestingly, Wendy is able to virtually forget her dysfunctional family when she starts a family of her own. If Jack had been able to do the same, we wouldn't have a problem. But, Jack's childhood is so dysfunctional and so violent, we can understand why putting it behind him isn't so easy.
Quote #6
"This is the happiest I've been since we were married" (15.22).
The Overlook didn't like hearing this at all. The hotel immediately makes plans to destroy that happiness. Moral: Be careful what you say in a haunted house!
Quote #7
[Jack's mother] rarely spoke above a mutter (26.11).
Jack's relationship with his mother is almost as troubling as the one with his father. She was unable to protect her children or herself from her husband. Although not explicitly stated, she doesn't even seem to try. Since she isn't developed beyond this, it's hard to know exactly why she's so passive.
Quote #8
In those days it did not seem strange to Jack […] that his own love should go hand-in-hand with his fear […]. (26.11).
Jack is thinking about his relationship with his father. King takes care to explore the coexistence of love and fear through this relationship. Can we relate to what he's talking about? Are most parent-child relationships characterized, to some degree, by this coexistence?
Quote #9
"You're just like my mother, you milksop b****." (46.69)
Wendy isn't really much like Jack's mother. Milksop, obviously refers to his mother's passivity. Wendy is anything but passive. When Jack says Wendy is like his mother, he means she's betrayed Jack the way he thinks his mother betrayed his father. He only thinks his mother betrayed his father when he's lost himself to the hotel.
Quote #10
"You're not my daddy. […] And if there's a little bit of my daddy left inside you, he knows they lie here. Everything is a lie and a cheat. […] You're it, not my daddy. You're the hotel. […] Go on and hit me. But you'll never get what you want from me." (55.56-55.58)
With great empathy, and with undying love for the 'real' Jack, Danny does what Jack never did – he stands up to his father.