Drugs and Alcohol Quotes in The Shining

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"All your old drinking habits, too. Chewing Excedrin. Wiping your mouth all the time. Cranky in the morning. And you haven't been able to finish the play, yet, have you?" (29.37)

We think this is a pretty brilliant touch. The alcohol the Overlook gives Jack is preceded by the habits Jack stopped when he gave up his drinking life. As we see in the next quote, Wendy still treats him like he's drinking – she's never given up the habit she developed when Jack was drinking. Not that we blame her. She's simply concerned about the safety and welfare of her family.

Quote #8

Standing on top [the table] was a martini glass, a fifth of gin, and a plastic dish filled with olives. (48.50)

As we discuss in Jack's "Character Analysis," this supports ideas that the Overlook is controlled by the devil, who, as we see in Faust stories, will give a person his or her favorite alcohol as inducement to sell his or her soul. Since even Wendy and Danny can smell the alcohol on Jack, we can assume that this goes beyond hallucinations.