Analysis Of The Film The Shining Through The Feminist Lens
Adapted from Stephen King’s well renowned novel of the same name, Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film The Shining, has been widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. The film narrates the story of Jack Torrance, an ambitious writer and recuperating alcoholic, who decides to move to the isolated Overlook Hotel located in the mountains of Colorado. He takes on the position of caretaker at the isolated hotel for the winter season, and moves in with his wife and son, Wendy and Danny Torrance. While there, the family is snowbound and Jack succumbs to the supernatural forces that exist within the hotel. Over time he loses his sanity entirely, placing his wife and child in grave danger. When analyzed through the feminist lens, Kubrick’s film is highly critical of abuse inflicted towards women. He conveys his dislike for the oppression of women by examining the sexist societal expectations, and demeaning male behaviour exhibited toward them.
Initially in the film, Wendy is a kind-hearted mother who cares for her family and takes care of her child. Jack on the other hand is the worker in the family and supports them financially by applying for the position of caretaker at the hotel. Kubrick immediately establishes the traditional roles played by each figure in the film. Traditional roles are responsibilities associated with each gender that are typically expected to be fulfilled by society. For women this usually involves being homely, a good-wife, and a loving mother, all traits exhibited by Wendy throughout the movie. When the couple is offered a tour of the hotel upon moving in, the manager retorts “. . . it would be a good idea … to show Mrs. Torrance the kitchen while he continues on with Jack”. Through this, Kubrick reveals that women are responsible for cooking and ideally belong in the kitchen while tending to children. The male characters automatically have the assumption that Wendy will only be interested in working at the kitchen. Kubrick establishes the stereotypical gender roles of a woman evidently through this subtle scene.
As the film progresses, Jack slowly begins to unhinge. He engages in erratic behaviour including writing the same message repeatedly, and displaying outbursts of anger, specifically targeted towards Wendy. Wendy has no control over the situation and becomes involved in a relationship similar to that of an abusive parent and child. It is here that Kubrick emphasises the degree to which Jack infantilizes Wendy. Infantilization refers to the process in which women are condescended by the males in their life to the point where they are treated as children. This often results in the men exhibiting abuse or anger toward them. When Jack is busy typing away at his “work” in his room, Wendy inquires whether he is interested in playing with her and Danny in the snow. In a fit of anger Jack retorts that “he is going to make a new rule… When he is in the room, it means that he is working, and … that means no one can enter”.
Rules are typically used by adults on children when enforcing discipline or good behaviour. Kubrick clearly conveys Jack’s condescending attitude towards Wendy by demonstrating his treatment of her as a child. Near the final stages of the movie, Jack completely loses his sanity due to the influence of the hotel. He indulges in unusual habits including conversing with dead hotel residents. As Wendy becomes fully aware of this behaviour and tries to defend herself, Jack manifests a strong anger and violent attitude, both of which lead him to ruthlessly attempt murdering her. Kubrick conveys the extreme misogyny Jack exhibits very effectively. Misogyny is a demeaning or negative attitude towards women and can most often result in actions that lead to inflicting harm. When Wendy discovers Jack’s writing, and he attempts to attack her, she tries defending herself with a bat.
As Wendy screams at Jack to “stay away from her and not hurt her!”, Jack menacingly responds that “he is not going to hurt her, he is just going to bash her brains!”. It is evident that Jack’s attitude towards Wendy is overpowering and truly violent. Through this scene, Kubrick effectively demonstrates Jack’s extreme misogynistic behaviour towards a weak a vulnerable Wendy. In The Shining, Kubrick strongly reinforces the ideology that due to their weak and emotional personality, women fall prey to societal expectations and extreme negativity imposed by the men around them. Through this, the film can be interpreted as an accurate representation of the oppression faced by some women. By exaggerating Jack’s character, Kubrick is critical of the abusive relationships that women often endure. The Overlook Hotel itself can be understood as a metaphor for the trapped isolated feelings of being in such a relationship. Both the hotel and Jack’s abuse are Wendy’s personal prison. Ultimately, The Shining truly “shines light” on the plight of women, while bringing to attention the negative expectations and attitudes imposed on them by males in society.
