Dick Halloran

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Dana Jean

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I'm sitting here watching A Night at the Movies, the Stephen King one.

He talks about The Shining and how he looks at Jack Torrance paraphrasing, "as a piece of metal bent first one way and then another" and how the malignant spirits of the hotel are really wanting Danny because he is a very psychically powerful person.

But, so is Dick Halloran. Why was Dick happy to work at this hotel and why wasn't he threatened and "wanted" by the hotel?

Thoughts?
 

Doc Creed

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Interesting question! I think Dick was well acquainted with his condition and had more or less used that wisdom to ignore the hotel's spirits. Danny, as a five year old child, is not only more susceptible to seeing the ghosts but accompanied with the shining he is vulnerable to the intimidating forces. I just think he could be manipulated more easily.
We understand, from Doctor Sleep, that the adult Danny had very much adapted to his gift the way Dick had. For better or worse he took advantage of it.
That's my take.
 

Dana Jean

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Interesting question! I think Dick was well acquainted with his condition and had more or less used that wisdom to ignore the hotel's spirits. Danny, as a five year old child, is not only more susceptible to seeing the ghosts but accompanied with the shining he is vulnerable to the intimidating forces. I just think he could be manipulated more easily.
We understand, from Doctor Sleep, that the adult Danny had very much adapted to his gift the way Dick had. For better or worse he took advantage of it.
That's my take.
I see that. But, wouldn't the evil have kept chipping away at Dick's resolve? Wouldn't it have been exhausting to block that out day after day? I would think he'd have chosen another place to work just for his own peace.
 

Doc Creed

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I see that. But, wouldn't the evil have kept chipping away at Dick's resolve? Wouldn't it have been exhausting to block that out day after day? I would think he'd have chosen another place to work just for his own peace.
Yeah, great point. The book sort of suggests the hand of fate against free will, too, ("you've always been the caretaker here, Mr. Torrance) and it feels like Dick was always a lighthouse (a different type of caretaker) and waiting for Danny in a way. Danny seemed to be chosen or special, to me. I can't remember if the novel spells it or if the hotel simply took advantage of controlling or using a child versus a grown man. It had to nearly drive Dick mad. I'd go work at the Best Western, lol.
 

Dana Jean

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Yeah, great point. The book sort of suggests the hand of fate against free will, too, ("you've always been the caretaker here, Mr. Torrance) and it feels like Dick was always a lighthouse (a different type of caretaker) and waiting for Danny in a way. Danny seemed to be chosen or special, to me. I can't remember if the novel spells it out but the hotel simply took advantage of controlling or using a child versus a grown man. It had to nearly drive Dick mad. I'd go work at the Best Western, lol.
hahahha! Yeah seriously, Best Western!!:laugh:
 

do1you9love?

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I'm sitting here watching A Night at the Movies, the Stephen King one.

He talks about The Shining and how he looks at Jack Torrance paraphrasing, "as a piece of metal bent first one way and then another" and how the malignant spirits of the hotel are really wanting Danny because he is a very psychically powerful person.

But, so is Dick Halloran. Why was Dick happy to work at this hotel and why wasn't he threatened and "wanted" by the hotel?

Thoughts?
This in one of my favorites, right up there with The Talisman.
Dick answers this himself (I think when he's thinking about Danny right before Danny calls for him). Paraphrasing here... "Danny was the one with the searchlight. Mine is more like a flashlight."
Simply put, Dick had the Shining, but Danny's gift was much more powerful than Dick's.
 

Nomik

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Interesting question! I think Dick was well acquainted with his condition and had more or less used that wisdom to ignore the hotel's spirits. Danny, as a five year old child, is not only more susceptible to seeing the ghosts but accompanied with the shining he is vulnerable to the intimidating forces. I just think he could be manipulated more easily.
We understand, from Doctor Sleep, that the adult Danny had very much adapted to his gift the way Dick had. For better or worse he took advantage of it.
That's my take.
That's pretty much what I was going to say.
Dr. Sleep provides us with a bit more insight into the way people with this "gift" learn to adapt. As they mature, they must learn techniques for protection as well as self fulfillment. Danny was lucky enough to have Dick bestow him with the secret box gift. Eventually, the items in the box need to be dealt with, but not until the persons has more strength and wisdom.
Now I'm thinking of the varying degrees of psychic abilities afflicting the characters in Rose Red. with the exception of the youngest girl, all of these characters sought to use these abilities in a known paranormal hotbed. They intentionally took risks for the purpose financial gain. Dick and Danny tried to avoid their supernatural abilities unless it was to help (Danny volunteers for Hospice).
I think wisdom and intent are paramount with respect to each character's destiny.
 

Dana Jean

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Jack had more time on his hands and no crowds to distract him. Dick was very busy during the summer season.
The hotel didn't want Jack, it wanted Danny. So it was working on Jack to get him.

All great responses, but even though Dick had his lockbox, I would think working in such an evil place would put a strain on him. But, like staro said, he was busy, so maybe he didn't have an idle mind or idle hands and that helped him sleep at night and not hear the evil.

Thanks everyone!
 

Nomik

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The hotel didn't want Jack, it wanted Danny. So it was working on Jack to get him.

All great responses, but even though Dick had his lockbox, I would think working in such an evil place would put a strain on him. But, like staro said, he was busy, so maybe he didn't have an idle mind or idle hands and that helped him sleep at night and not hear the evil.

Thanks everyone!
We, as I recall there was something about Dick's ancestry mentioned in Dr. Sleep - . .
 

GNTLGNT

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The hotel didn't want Jack, it wanted Danny. So it was working on Jack to get him.

All great responses, but even though Dick had his lockbox, I would think working in such an evil place would put a strain on him. But, like staro said, he was busy, so maybe he didn't have an idle mind or idle hands and that helped him sleep at night and not hear the evil.

Thanks everyone!
....just another thought, could be Danny's power of Shine-combined with his innocence.....that drew evil like moths to a porch light....
 

Blake

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Maybe the spirits/ghosts of the hotel or the sour land were racist? Didn't they say to Jack that your boy is trying to contact a ******. A ****** cook? Also, there is some connection with regard to Dick having some sort of Native-American influence so maybe he was in some way protected. I think it said (in the book) that the Hotel when constructed had to be protected from attacking Native-Americans. Maybe if they got Dick they couldn't manipulate him as he was already an Adult. Also, in the book I remember them saying something like, 'we can bend him to our way'(Danny) which suggests that he would forever remain a child in spirit.
 

Nomik

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....just another thought, could be Danny's power of Shine-combined with his innocence.....that drew evil like moths to a porch light....
I've been meaning to say something about this all day, and it's almost midnight - why am I thinking about a green porch light? It's not a Cicada puzzle, dammit ~it's an impossible game for geniuses and a moth~~green lights, my front porch, standing, silence. Oh yes, now I remember! Danny has Tony for protection, I know it doesn't seem to make sense but it's partially true. It is fiction and it makes more sense in the sequel when you get to know
Abra, because she's a combination of Danny and Annie Wheaton from Rose Red. They are granted natural immunity because of their weirdness and innocence. .granted, the author bestows this protection at will..
I need to quickly include a response to Mr Cranky: Yes and, well yes! The sequel takes the idea of those forces keeping children's innocence to gruesome and chilling extremes.
 
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