Breaking the Cycle: Kubrick, Nietzsche, and the Search for Meaning

As͏͏ Wendy͏͏ calls͏͏ out͏͏ for͏͏ her͏͏ husband,͏͏ Jack,͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ room͏͏ that͏͏ feels͏͏ too͏͏ quiet͏͏ for͏͏ comfort,͏͏ her͏͏ soft,͏͏ tentative͏͏ footsteps͏͏ approach͏͏ a͏͏ typewriter͏͏ and͏͏ stack͏͏ of͏͏ papers͏͏ perfectly͏͏ centered͏͏ on͏͏ a͏͏ dark͏͏ wooden͏͏ dining͏͏ table.͏͏ Her͏͏ unease͏͏ and͏͏ hesitation͏͏ grow͏͏ with͏͏ every͏͏ step͏͏ closer͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ place͏͏ where͏͏ Jack͏͏ has͏͏ been͏͏ doing͏͏ all͏͏ his͏͏ writing.͏͏ Her͏͏ hands͏͏ grip͏͏ the͏͏ baseball͏͏ bat͏͏ tighter,͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ expression͏͏ on͏͏ her͏͏ face͏͏ grows͏͏ with͏͏ terror͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ metallic͏͏ clatter͏͏ echoes͏͏ through͏͏ the͏͏ cavernous͏͏ silence͏͏ —the͏͏ sharp,͏͏ rhythmic͏͏ rat-a-tat-tat͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ typewriter͏͏ slicing͏͏ through͏͏ the͏͏ loud͏͏ silence.͏͏ The͏͏ machine͏͏ is͏͏ typing͏͏ on͏͏ its͏͏ own,͏͏ “All͏͏ work͏͏ and͏͏ no͏͏ play͏͏ makes͏͏ Jack͏͏ a͏͏ dull͏͏ boy,”͏͏ over͏͏ and͏͏ over͏͏ and͏͏ over.͏͏ As͏͏ she͏͏ slowly͏͏ looks͏͏ at͏͏ the͏͏ massive͏͏ stack͏͏ of͏͏ papers͏͏ next͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ typewriter,͏͏ she͏͏ sees͏͏ the͏͏ exact͏͏ phrase͏͏ typed͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ first͏͏ page,͏͏ the͏͏ second͏͏ page,͏͏ and,͏͏ to͏͏ her͏͏ horror,͏͏ every͏͏ single͏͏ page.͏͏ “How͏͏ do͏͏ you͏͏ like͏͏ it?”͏͏ Jack͏͏ says,͏͏ emerging͏͏ out͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ dark͏͏ corner͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ room.͏͏ His͏͏ eyes͏͏ tell͏͏ her͏͏ he͏͏ hasn’t͏͏ slept͏͏ in͏͏ days,͏͏ but͏͏ his͏͏ words͏͏ just͏͏ say͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ belittling͏͏ and͏͏ menacing͏͏ tone,͏͏ “What͏͏ are͏͏ you͏͏ doing͏͏ down͏͏ here?”͏͏ Wendy’s͏͏ voice͏͏ trembles͏͏ as͏͏ she͏͏ tells͏͏ him,͏͏ “I͏͏ just͏͏ wanted͏͏ to͏͏ talk͏͏ to͏͏ you.”͏͏

She͏͏ has͏͏ uncovered͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ secret.͏͏ He͏͏ has͏͏ done͏͏ no͏͏ writing͏͏ at͏͏ all.͏͏ What͏͏ could͏͏ have͏͏ been͏͏ discovered͏͏ as͏͏ the͏͏ hard͏͏ work͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ dedicated͏͏ writer͏͏ is͏͏ revealed͏͏ instead͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ horrifying͏͏ failure͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ person͏͏ driven͏͏ mad.͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ shame͏͏ curdles͏͏ into͏͏ a͏͏ rage,͏͏ a͏͏ desperate͏͏ need͏͏ to͏͏ mask͏͏ his͏͏ humiliation͏͏ with͏͏ menace,͏͏ as͏͏ though͏͏ terrorizing͏͏ his͏͏ family͏͏ might͏͏ distract͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ truth͏͏ of͏͏ those͏͏ pages.͏͏ The͏͏ Overlook͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ just͏͏ intensify͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ madness—it͏͏ preys͏͏ on͏͏ his͏͏ deepest͏͏ insecurities,͏͏ twisting͏͏ his͏͏ failure͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ writer͏͏ into͏͏ a͏͏ hideous͏͏ obsession.͏͏ As͏͏ he͏͏ glares͏͏ down͏͏ to͏͏ briefly͏͏ skim͏͏ the͏͏ stack͏͏ of͏͏ pages,͏͏ each͏͏ line͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ cruel͏͏ reminder͏͏ that͏͏ he͏͏ will͏͏ write͏͏ this͏͏ failure͏͏ over͏͏ and͏͏ over͏͏ again,͏͏ trapped͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ cycle͏͏ with͏͏ no͏͏ escape.͏͏ Stanley͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ directs͏͏ this͏͏ scene͏͏ in͏͏ The͏͏ Shining͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ precision͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ filmmaker͏͏ who͏͏ understands͏͏ cinematic͏͏ language͏͏ like͏͏ few͏͏ others,͏͏ merging͏͏ his͏͏ mastery͏͏ of͏͏ visual͏͏ storytelling͏͏ with͏͏ an͏͏ anthropological͏͏ eye͏͏ for͏͏ human͏͏ behavior͏͏ and͏͏ a͏͏ deep͏͏ philosophical͏͏ curiosity͏͏ about͏͏ the͏͏ human͏͏ condition.

Jack͏͏ Torrance’s͏͏ unraveling͏͏ is͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ haunting͏͏ depictions͏͏ of͏͏ existential͏͏ dread͏͏ I’ve͏͏ ever͏͏ seen.͏͏ As͏͏ I͏͏ watch͏͏ him͏͏ spiral͏͏ deeper͏͏ into͏͏ madness,͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ way,͏͏ there͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ sense͏͏ of͏͏ bizarre͏͏ familiarity͏͏ to͏͏ his͏͏ breakdown.͏͏ There͏͏ are͏͏ days͏͏ when͏͏ my͏͏ own͏͏ life͏͏ feels͏͏ like͏͏ an͏͏ endless͏͏ loop—waking͏͏ up,͏͏ attending͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ classes,͏͏ seeing͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ people,͏͏ and͏͏ repeating͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ conversations.͏͏ I’m͏͏ always͏͏ told͏͏ that͏͏ college͏͏ is͏͏ “the͏͏ most͏͏ exciting͏͏ time͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ life;͏͏ don’t͏͏ waste͏͏ a͏͏ second͏͏ of͏͏ this͏͏ precious͏͏ time!”͏͏ Which͏͏ I͏͏ know͏͏ is͏͏ true.͏͏ As͏͏ a͏͏ senior,͏͏ the͏͏ phases͏͏ I’ve͏͏ seen͏͏ myself͏͏ go͏͏ through,͏͏ the͏͏ people͏͏ I’ve͏͏ met,͏͏ the͏͏ interests͏͏ I’ve͏͏ developed,͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ experiences͏͏ I’ve͏͏ had͏͏ are͏͏ incredible͏͏ and͏͏ once͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ lifetime.͏͏ But͏͏ there͏͏ are͏͏ also͏͏ periods͏͏ where͏͏ it͏͏ can͏͏ feel͏͏ like͏͏ my͏͏ own͏͏ Overlook͏͏ Hotel.͏͏ ͏͏ 

My͏͏ life͏͏ can͏͏ feel͏͏ very͏͏ structured,͏͏ structured͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ point͏͏ where͏͏ the͏͏ days͏͏ and͏͏ weeks͏͏ start͏͏ to͏͏ blur͏͏ together—classes,͏͏ assignments,͏͏ and͏͏ social͏͏ obligations͏͏ all͏͏ looping͏͏ in͏͏ an͏͏ endless͏͏ cycle͏͏ that͏͏ makes͏͏ it͏͏ hard͏͏ to͏͏ tell͏͏ if͏͏ you’re͏͏ moving͏͏ forward͏͏ and͏͏ making͏͏ progress͏͏ or͏͏ just͏͏ running͏͏ on͏͏ seven͏͏ slightly͏͏ different͏͏ hamster͏͏ wheels͏͏ a͏͏ week.͏͏ The͏͏ pressure͏͏ to͏͏ excel͏͏ academically,͏͏ have͏͏ a͏͏ social͏͏ life,͏͏ and͏͏ figure͏͏ out͏͏ how͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ an͏͏ adult͏͏ by͏͏ the͏͏ time͏͏ graduation͏͏ happens͏͏ can͏͏ feel͏͏ suffocating,͏͏ as͏͏ if͏͏ every͏͏ day͏͏ is͏͏ just͏͏ a͏͏ slightly͏͏ altered͏͏ version͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ one͏͏ before.͏͏ There͏͏ are͏͏ moments͏͏ when͏͏ the͏͏ urge͏͏ to͏͏ disrupt͏͏ the͏͏ relentless͏͏ sameness͏͏ becomes͏͏ overwhelming͏͏ as͏͏ if͏͏ only͏͏ an͏͏ irrational,͏͏ impulsive͏͏ act͏͏ could͏͏ break the͏͏ cycle.͏͏ Jack͏͏ embodies͏͏ the͏͏ darkest͏͏ version͏͏ of͏͏ that͏͏ impulse.͏͏ His͏͏ arc͏͏ forces͏͏ us͏͏ to͏͏ confront͏͏ a͏͏ universal͏͏ truth:͏͏ monotony͏͏ can͏͏ feel͏͏ suffocating,͏͏ but͏͏ it’s͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ way͏͏ we͏͏ react͏͏ to͏͏ it͏͏ that͏͏ determines͏͏ whether͏͏ we͏͏ grow͏͏ or͏͏ destroy͏͏ ourselves.

Jack’s͏͏ battle͏͏ with͏͏ his͏͏ typewriter͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ masterstroke͏͏ of͏͏ visual͏͏ and͏͏ psychological͏͏ storytelling.͏͏ It’s͏͏ clear͏͏ he͏͏ tried͏͏ everything͏͏ to͏͏ alleviate͏͏ his͏͏ writer’s͏͏ block,͏͏ clinging͏͏ to͏͏ freewriting͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ last-ditch͏͏ effort͏͏ to͏͏ spark͏͏ creativity.͏͏ But͏͏ instead͏͏ of͏͏ progress,͏͏ the͏͏ exercise͏͏ traps͏͏ him͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ maddening͏͏ loop͏͏ where͏͏ the͏͏ act͏͏ of͏͏ writing͏͏ becomes͏͏ its͏͏ punishment.͏͏ The͏͏ blank͏͏ pages͏͏ and͏͏ repeated͏͏ phrases͏͏ aren’t͏͏ just͏͏ symbols͏͏ of͏͏ creative͏͏ sterility;͏͏ they’re͏͏ the͏͏ physical͏͏ manifestations͏͏ of͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ existential͏͏ crisis.͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ captures͏͏ this͏͏ unraveling͏͏ with͏͏ an͏͏ almost͏͏ clinical͏͏ meticulousness,͏͏ showing͏͏ us͏͏ a͏͏ man͏͏ consumed͏͏ not͏͏ by͏͏ a͏͏ ghost͏͏ or͏͏ a͏͏ demon͏͏ but͏͏ by͏͏ his͏͏ inability͏͏ to͏͏ find͏͏ meaning͏͏ in͏͏ his͏͏ work,͏͏ relationships,͏͏ or͏͏ himself.͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ deterioration͏͏ begins͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ problem͏͏ many͏͏ artists͏͏ face:͏͏ the͏͏ daunting͏͏ silence͏͏ of͏͏ an͏͏ empty͏͏ page.͏͏ Freewriting,͏͏ a͏͏ method͏͏ meant͏͏ to͏͏ ignite͏͏ creativity͏͏ by͏͏ allowing͏͏ the͏͏ mind͏͏ to͏͏ wander͏͏ freely,͏͏ becomes͏͏ his͏͏ undoing.͏͏ Instead͏͏ of͏͏ liberating͏͏ Jack,͏͏ the͏͏ exercise͏͏ devolves͏͏ into͏͏ obsessive͏͏ repetition,͏͏ mirroring͏͏ the͏͏ loops͏͏ of͏͏ thought͏͏ we͏͏ all͏͏ fall͏͏ into͏͏ when͏͏ seeking͏͏ meaning͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ meaningless.͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ captures͏͏ this͏͏ brilliantly,͏͏ using͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ typewriter—a͏͏ tool͏͏ of͏͏ creation—as͏͏ a͏͏ symbol͏͏ of͏͏ his͏͏ destruction.͏͏ It’s͏͏ not͏͏ just͏͏ writer’s͏͏ block;͏͏ it’s͏͏ existential͏͏ paralysis,͏͏ a͏͏ microcosm͏͏ of͏͏ how͏͏ humans͏͏ react͏͏ when͏͏ their͏͏ efforts͏͏ yield͏͏ no͏͏ progress.

In͏͏ The͏͏ Shining,͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ existential͏͏ dread͏͏ is͏͏ shaped͏͏ by͏͏ Nietzsche’s͏͏ theory͏͏ of͏͏ eternal͏͏ recurrence—the͏͏ idea͏͏ that͏͏ life͏͏ unfolds͏͏ in͏͏ endless͏͏ cycles,͏͏ challenging͏͏ us͏͏ to͏͏ embrace͏͏ every͏͏ moment͏͏ as͏͏ if͏͏ it͏͏ were͏͏ fated͏͏ to͏͏ repeat͏͏ forever.͏͏ In͏͏ Beyond͏͏ Good͏͏ and͏͏ Evil,͏͏ Nietzsche͏͏ describes͏͏ the͏͏ ideal͏͏ person as͏͏ one͏͏ who͏͏ could͏͏ affirm͏͏ life͏͏ so͏͏ thoroughly͏͏ that͏͏ they͏͏ would͏͏ choose͏͏ to͏͏ live͏͏ every͏͏ moment͏͏ over͏͏ and͏͏ over͏͏ again,͏͏ no͏͏ matter͏͏ how͏͏ painful:͏͏ “The͏͏ idea͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ world-approving,͏͏ exuberant,͏͏ and͏͏ vivacious͏͏ man,͏͏ who͏͏ has͏͏ not͏͏ only͏͏ learnt͏͏ to͏͏ compromise͏͏ and͏͏ arrange͏͏ with͏͏ that͏͏ which͏͏ was͏͏ and͏͏ is,͏͏ but͏͏ wishes͏͏ to͏͏ have͏͏ it͏͏ again͏͏ as͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ and͏͏ is,͏͏ for͏͏ all͏͏ eternity,͏͏ insatiably͏͏ calling͏͏ out͏͏ de͏͏ capo…” (62).͏͏ It’s͏͏ a͏͏ bold͏͏ but͏͏ beautiful͏͏ proposition,͏͏ but͏͏ in͏͏ The͏͏ Shining,͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ turns͏͏ this͏͏ concept͏͏ into͏͏ a͏͏ nightmare.͏͏ Rather͏͏ than͏͏ affirming͏͏ life’s͏͏ cycles,͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ journey͏͏ shows͏͏ us͏͏ the͏͏ terror͏͏ of͏͏ being͏͏ trapped͏͏ in͏͏ them.͏͏ 

Nietzsche’s͏͏ idea͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ Übermensch,͏͏ or͏͏ “overman,” also contrasts͏͏ sharply͏͏ with͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ character.͏͏ The͏͏ Übermensch͏͏ is͏͏ someone͏͏ who͏͏ transcends͏͏ societal͏͏ norms͏͏ and͏͏ embraces͏͏ life’s͏͏ chaos͏͏ to͏͏ create͏͏ their͏͏ own͏͏ meaning.͏͏ Someone͏͏ who͏͏ embodies͏͏ these͏͏ seven͏͏ principles:͏͏ self-determination,͏͏ creativity,͏͏ becoming,͏͏ overcoming,͏͏ discontent,͏͏ flexibility,͏͏ self-mastery,͏͏ self-confidence,͏͏ cheerfulness,͏͏ and͏͏ courage.͏͏ Jack͏͏ is͏͏ the͏͏ absolute͏͏ antithesis͏͏ of͏͏ this͏͏ ideal.͏͏ Instead͏͏ of͏͏ rising͏͏ above͏͏ the͏͏ monotony,͏͏ he͏͏ succumbs͏͏ to͏͏ it,͏͏ letting͏͏ the͏͏ Overlook͏͏ dictate͏͏ his͏͏ identity.͏͏ Nietzsche’s͏͏ warning͏͏ about͏͏ the͏͏ abyss,͏͏ “He͏͏ who͏͏ fights͏͏ with͏͏ monsters͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ careful͏͏ lest͏͏ he͏͏ thereby͏͏ become͏͏ a͏͏ monster”͏͏ (87),͏͏ becomes͏͏ literal͏͏ in͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ case.͏͏ The͏͏ Overlook͏͏ mirrors͏͏ his͏͏ darkest͏͏ instincts,͏͏ turning͏͏ him͏͏ into͏͏ the͏͏ very͏͏ monster͏͏ he͏͏ fears.

The͏͏ exploration͏͏ of͏͏ Nietzsche's͏͏ theory͏͏ of͏͏ eternal͏͏ recurrence͏͏ is͏͏ not͏͏ unique͏͏ to͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ context͏͏ of͏͏ Hollywood͏͏ filmmaking.͏͏ Unlike͏͏ screenwriter͏͏ Charlie͏͏ Kaufman's͏͏ characters͏͏ Joel͏͏ and͏͏ Clementine͏͏ in͏͏ Eternal͏͏ Sunshine͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ Spotless͏͏ Mind,͏͏ who͏͏ relive͏͏ their͏͏ relationship͏͏ to͏͏ find͏͏ clarity͏͏ and͏͏ authenticity,͏͏ Jack's͏͏ journey͏͏ into͏͏ memory͏͏ is͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ regression,͏͏ not͏͏ revelation.͏͏ Kaufman's͏͏ vision͏͏ of͏͏ recurrence͏͏ allows͏͏ for͏͏ growth:͏͏ revisiting͏͏ mistakes͏͏ becomes͏͏ a͏͏ way͏͏ to͏͏ find͏͏ meaning,͏͏ like͏͏ rewatching͏͏ a͏͏ messy͏͏ home͏͏ video͏͏ and͏͏ noticing͏͏ something͏͏ new͏͏ and͏͏ beautiful͏͏ each͏͏ time.͏͏ In͏͏ contrast,͏͏ Kubrick's͏͏ take͏͏ feels͏͏ like͏͏ wandering͏͏ through͏͏ an͏͏ endless͏͏ hall͏͏ of͏͏ warped͏͏ mirrors,͏͏ each͏͏ reflection͏͏ revealing͏͏ a͏͏ more͏͏ grotesque͏͏ and͏͏ terrifying͏͏ version͏͏ of͏͏ yourself.͏͏ Jack's͏͏ repeated͏͏ failures͏͏ become͏͏ his͏͏ identity,͏͏ trapping͏͏ him͏͏ in͏͏ an͏͏ endless͏͏ loop͏͏ of͏͏ self-destruction͏͏ with͏͏ no͏͏ way͏͏ out.͏͏ Kubrick’s͏͏ film͏͏ is͏͏ steeped͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ unique͏͏ kind͏͏ of͏͏ darkness.͏͏ As͏͏ a͏͏ horror͏͏ film,͏͏ it͏͏ avoids͏͏ typical͏͏ frights͏͏ and͏͏ channels͏͏ something͏͏ far͏͏ scarier:͏͏ the͏͏ inescapable͏͏ anxieties͏͏ and͏͏ existential͏͏ fears͏͏ that͏͏ haunt͏͏ us͏͏ in͏͏ real͏͏ life.

Kubrick’s͏͏ filmmaking͏͏ style͏͏ is͏͏ perfectly͏͏ suited͏͏ to͏͏ exploring͏͏ these͏͏ existential͏͏ dilemmas.͏͏ His͏͏ films͏͏ are͏͏ known͏͏ for͏͏ their͏͏ deliberate͏͏ pacing,͏͏ meticulous͏͏ framing,͏͏ and͏͏ refusal͏͏ to͏͏ provide͏͏ easy͏͏ answers.͏͏ Watching͏͏ The͏͏ Shining͏͏ feels͏͏ like͏͏ being͏͏ caught͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ maze—much͏͏ like͏͏ the͏͏ Overlook͏͏ itself—where͏͏ every͏͏ turn͏͏ leads͏͏ to͏͏ more͏͏ questions.͏͏ I͏͏ love͏͏ that͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ tell͏͏ us͏͏ what͏͏ to͏͏ think͏͏ or͏͏ feel.͏͏ Instead,͏͏ he͏͏ challenges͏͏ us.͏͏ He͏͏ forces͏͏ us͏͏ to͏͏ sit͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ discomfort͏͏ of͏͏ uncertainty,͏͏ much͏͏ like͏͏ Jack͏͏ does.͏͏ For͏͏ someone͏͏ like͏͏ me—who͏͏ has͏͏ spent͏͏ too͏͏ many͏͏ nights͏͏ wondering͏͏ about͏͏ the͏͏ purpose͏͏ of͏͏ life͏͏ or͏͏ what͏͏ this͏͏ will͏͏ all͏͏ mean͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ end—Kubrick’s͏͏ film͏͏ feels͏͏ like͏͏ a͏͏ groundbreaking͏͏ merge͏͏ between͏͏ cinematic͏͏ artistry͏͏ and͏͏ theoretical͏͏ explorations͏͏ of͏͏ being.͏͏ 

Kubrick’s͏͏ direction͏͏ transforms͏͏ the͏͏ Overlook͏͏ into͏͏ a͏͏ living͏͏ entity,͏͏ with͏͏ its͏͏ symmetry͏͏ and͏͏ unsettling͏͏ stillness͏͏ creating͏͏ an͏͏ atmosphere͏͏ of͏͏ perpetual͏͏ tension.͏͏ The͏͏ vast͏͏ halls͏͏ feel͏͏ oppressive,͏͏ their͏͏ eerie͏͏ emptiness͏͏ echoing͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ isolation.͏͏ The͏͏ camerawork͏͏ and͏͏ set͏͏ pieces͏͏ are͏͏ visually͏͏ stunning,͏͏ yet͏͏ their͏͏ beauty͏͏ serves͏͏ a͏͏ deeper͏͏ purpose.͏͏ Every͏͏ choice͏͏ feels͏͏ intentional—each͏͏ typewriter͏͏ click͏͏ resonates͏͏ like͏͏ a͏͏ heartbeat,͏͏ while͏͏ every͏͏ creak͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ floorboards͏͏ echoes͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ whisper͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ past.͏͏ Kubrick’s͏͏ camera͏͏ lingers,͏͏ forcing͏͏ the͏͏ audience͏͏ to͏͏ sit͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ discomfort͏͏ of͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ unraveling.͏͏ This͏͏ studious͏͏ pacing͏͏ attests͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ film’s͏͏ central͏͏ existential͏͏ question:͏͏ when͏͏ faced͏͏ with͏͏ self-induced͏͏ desolation,͏͏ do͏͏ we͏͏ endure͏͏ it,͏͏ or͏͏ do͏͏ we͏͏ let͏͏ it͏͏ break͏͏ us?

More͏͏ than͏͏ just͏͏ a͏͏ haunted͏͏ house,͏͏ The Overlook is͏͏ a͏͏ prison͏͏ of͏͏ memory͏͏ and͏͏ history,͏͏ trapping͏͏ its͏͏ inhabitants͏͏ in͏͏ an͏͏ endless͏͏ cycle͏͏ of͏͏ violence͏͏ and͏͏ failure.͏͏ A͏͏ demon͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ possess͏͏ Jack;͏͏ the͏͏ weight͏͏ of͏͏ historical͏͏ recurrence͏͏ consumes͏͏ him.͏͏ As͏͏ Fredric͏͏ Jameson͏͏ notes͏͏ in͏͏ Historicism͏͏ in͏͏ The͏͏ Shining, "The͏͏ Jack͏͏ Nicholson͏͏ of͏͏ The͏͏ Shining͏͏ is͏͏ possessed͏͏ neither͏͏ by͏͏ evil͏͏ as͏͏ such͏͏ nor͏͏ by͏͏ the͏͏ ‘devil’͏͏ or͏͏ some͏͏ analogous͏͏ occult͏͏ force,͏͏ but͏͏ rather͏͏ simply͏͏ by͏͏ History,͏͏ by͏͏ the͏͏ American͏͏ past͏͏ as͏͏ it͏͏ has͏͏ left͏͏ its͏͏ sedimented͏͏ traces͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ corridors͏͏ and͏͏ dismembered͏͏ suites͏͏ of͏͏ this͏͏ monumental͏͏ rabbit͏͏ warren"͏͏ (90).͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ unraveling͏͏ isn’t͏͏ just͏͏ psychological—it’s͏͏ historical,͏͏ a͏͏ reflection͏͏ of͏͏ inherited͏͏ patterns and a͏͏ monument͏͏ to͏͏ history’s͏͏ darkest͏͏ impulses.͏͏ Built͏͏ on͏͏ a͏͏ Native͏͏ American͏͏ burial͏͏ ground,͏͏ the͏͏ hotel’s͏͏ legacy͏͏ of͏͏ violence͏͏ is͏͏ woven͏͏ into͏͏ its͏͏ foundation.͏͏ This͏͏ historical͏͏ context͏͏ adds͏͏ another͏͏ dark layer͏͏ to͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ madness.͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ fall͏͏ into͏͏ madness͏͏ culminates͏͏ in͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ film’s͏͏ most͏͏ unnerving͏͏ moments:͏͏ his͏͏ conversation͏͏ with͏͏ Lloyd,͏͏ the͏͏ Overlook’s͏͏ ghostly͏͏ bartender.͏͏ Lloyd͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ just͏͏ serve͏͏ Jack͏͏ alcohol;͏͏ he͏͏ serves͏͏ him͏͏ delusions,͏͏ validating͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ insecurities͏͏ and͏͏ resentments.͏͏ 

Kubrick's͏͏ legacy͏͏ is͏͏ indelibly͏͏ etched͏͏ across͏͏ cinema͏͏ and͏͏ society,͏͏ and͏͏ I've͏͏ recognized͏͏ echoes͏͏ of͏͏ The͏͏ Shining͏͏ emerging͏͏ in͏͏ surprising͏͏ modern͏͏ contexts—one͏͏ of͏͏ which͏͏ is͏͏ the͏͏ modern͏͏ concept͏͏ of͏͏ being͏͏ “red-pilled.” I͏͏ stumbled͏͏ across͏͏ discussions͏͏ of͏͏ “red-pilling”͏͏ on͏͏ Reddit͏͏ late͏͏ one͏͏ night.͏͏ The͏͏ term,͏͏ born͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ movie͏͏ The͏͏ Matrix,͏͏ seemed͏͏ like͏͏ a͏͏ revelation͏͏ at͏͏ first—it͏͏ is͏͏ often͏͏ used͏͏ in͏͏ internet͏͏ subcultures͏͏ (like͏͏ Reddit)͏͏ to͏͏ describe͏͏ a͏͏ moment͏͏ of͏͏ awakening͏͏ to͏͏ an͏͏ “alternative͏͏ reality” or͏͏ a͏͏ belief͏͏ that͏͏ mainstream͏͏ narratives͏͏ are͏͏ false.͏͏ As͏͏ I͏͏ dug͏͏ myself͏͏ into͏͏ an͏͏ online͏͏ rabbit͏͏ hole,͏͏ the͏͏ term͏͏ felt͏͏ like͏͏ a͏͏ lens͏͏ through͏͏ which͏͏ I͏͏ could͏͏ see͏͏ foggy societal͏͏ chaos͏͏ more͏͏ clearly,͏͏ as͏͏ I͏͏ realized͏͏ it’s͏͏ a͏͏ code͏͏ word͏͏ used͏͏ primarily͏͏ by͏͏ men͏͏ who͏͏ believe͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ modern͏͏ world͏͏ is͏͏ failing͏͏ them.͏͏ It͏͏ is͏͏ dark͏͏ internet͏͏ vernacular,͏͏ signifying͏͏ the͏͏ revelation͏͏ of͏͏ an͏͏ alternative͏͏ reality͏͏ often͏͏ accompanied͏͏ by͏͏ disillusionment͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ belief͏͏ that͏͏ “everything͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ lie.” While͏͏ some͏͏ view͏͏ it͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ political͏͏ awakening,͏͏ others͏͏ take͏͏ it͏͏ to͏͏ extremes,͏͏ constructing͏͏ exhaustive,͏͏ hyperbolic͏͏ manifestos͏͏ lamenting͏͏ societal͏͏ collapse.͏͏ Suddenly,͏͏ I͏͏ couldn’t͏͏ unsee͏͏ it—from͏͏ social͏͏ media͏͏ posts͏͏ with͏͏ slang͏͏ that͏͏ I͏͏ couldn’t͏͏ quite͏͏ understand͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ ways͏͏ I͏͏ see͏͏ my͏͏ male͏͏ friends͏͏ interact͏͏ with͏͏ women͏͏ on͏͏ dating͏͏ apps.͏͏ Learning͏͏ about͏͏ this͏͏ darker,͏͏ male-dominated͏͏ corner͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ internet͏͏ felt͏͏ like͏͏ I͏͏ had͏͏ taken͏͏ a͏͏ red͏͏ pill͏͏ of͏͏ my͏͏ own—though͏͏ perhaps͏͏ mine͏͏ was͏͏ a͏͏ shade͏͏ of͏͏ pink.͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ decline͏͏ mirrors͏͏ the͏͏ modern͏͏ phenomenon͏͏ of͏͏ being͏͏ “red-pilled,” where͏͏ uncovering͏͏ so-called͏͏ hidden͏͏ truths͏͏ can͏͏ feel͏͏ initially͏͏ empowering͏͏ but͏͏ ultimately͏͏ leads͏͏ to͏͏ deeper͏͏ existential͏͏ despair.͏͏ Lloyd͏͏ feeds͏͏ Jack͏͏ precisely͏͏ what͏͏ he͏͏ wants͏͏ to͏͏ hear,͏͏ much͏͏ like͏͏ today’s͏͏ online͏͏ echo͏͏ chambers͏͏ amplify͏͏ biases͏͏ and͏͏ validate͏͏ destructive͏͏ worldviews.͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ unraveling͏͏ shows͏͏ how͏͏ easily͏͏ the͏͏ search͏͏ for͏͏ hidden͏͏ truths͏͏ can͏͏ trap͏͏ us͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ cycle͏͏ of͏͏ nihilism,͏͏ reinforcing͏͏ the͏͏ ideas͏͏ we͏͏ were͏͏ trying͏͏ to͏͏ escape.

Kubrick͏͏ paved͏͏ the͏͏ way͏͏ for͏͏ this͏͏ cultural͏͏ phenomenon͏͏ by͏͏ exploring͏͏ hidden͏͏ truths͏͏ and͏͏ existential͏͏ dread.͏͏ This͏͏ phenomenon͏͏ is͏͏ far͏͏ from͏͏ novel;͏͏ it͏͏ has͏͏ simply͏͏ been͏͏ formalized͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ name͏͏ in͏͏ recent͏͏ discourse.͏͏ The͏͏ concept͏͏ of͏͏ “redpilling,” with͏͏ its͏͏ roots͏͏ in͏͏ cinematic͏͏ storytelling,͏͏ echoes͏͏ the͏͏ Overlook’s͏͏ relentless͏͏ grip͏͏ on͏͏ Jack—offering͏͏ the͏͏ illusion͏͏ of͏͏ revelation͏͏ while͏͏ plunging͏͏ him͏͏ deeper͏͏ into͏͏ despair.͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ was͏͏ very͏͏ ahead͏͏ of͏͏ his͏͏ time͏͏ by͏͏ illustrating͏͏ this͏͏ concept͏͏ throughout͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ narrative͏͏ arc,͏͏ as͏͏ his͏͏ delusions͏͏ are͏͏ slowly͏͏ fed͏͏ to͏͏ reinforce͏͏ his͏͏ worst͏͏ instincts.͏͏ To͏͏ Jack͏͏ and͏͏ many͏͏ men͏͏ of͏͏ today,͏͏ knowledge͏͏ can͏͏ become͏͏ a͏͏ trap͏͏ rather͏͏ than͏͏ a͏͏ tool͏͏ for͏͏ growth͏͏ when͏͏ stripped͏͏ of͏͏ hope͏͏ or͏͏ purpose.͏͏ But͏͏ unlike͏͏ Jack,͏͏ I͏͏ refuse͏͏ to͏͏ let͏͏ my͏͏ new͏͏ knowledge͏͏ of͏͏ this͏͏ consume͏͏ me.͏͏ I͏͏ want͏͏ to͏͏ devote͏͏ myself͏͏ to͏͏ channeling͏͏ this͏͏ unsettling͏͏ awareness͏͏ into͏͏ something͏͏ meaningful.

Jack,͏͏ however,͏͏ succumbs͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ abyss.͏͏ In͏͏ the͏͏ infamous͏͏ “all͏͏ work͏͏ and͏͏ no͏͏ play”͏͏ scene,͏͏ his͏͏ writing͏͏ becomes͏͏ a͏͏ ritual͏͏ of͏͏ futility.͏͏ Each͏͏ page͏͏ is͏͏ the͏͏ same—a͏͏ chilling͏͏ embodiment͏͏ of͏͏ eternal͏͏ recurrence.͏͏ As͏͏ Jameson͏͏ observes,͏͏ “On͏͏ the͏͏ other͏͏ hand,͏͏ whether͏͏ the͏͏ Jack͏͏ Nicholson͏͏ character͏͏ can͏͏ write͏͏ or͏͏ not,͏͏ he͏͏ certainly͏͏ does͏͏ write...͏͏ However,͏͏ the͏͏ text͏͏ in͏͏ question͏͏ is͏͏ very͏͏ explicitly͏͏ a͏͏ text͏͏ about͏͏ work:͏͏ it͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ kind͏͏ of͏͏ zero͏͏ point͏͏ around͏͏ which͏͏ the͏͏ film͏͏ organizes͏͏ itself,͏͏ a͏͏ kind͏͏ of͏͏ ultimate͏͏ and͏͏ empty͏͏ auto-referential͏͏ statement͏͏ about͏͏ the͏͏ impossibility͏͏ of͏͏ cultural͏͏ or͏͏ literary͏͏ production” (93).͏͏ This͏͏ isn’t͏͏ progress;͏͏ it’s͏͏ a͏͏ void.͏͏ And a haunting thought of what can happen when͏͏ despair͏͏ devours͏͏ creativity.

What͏͏ makes͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ fate͏͏ so͏͏ terrifying͏͏ is͏͏ how͏͏ it͏͏ reflects͏͏ our͏͏ own͏͏ struggles͏͏ with͏͏ meaning.͏͏ There’s͏͏ something͏͏ deeply͏͏ relatable͏͏ about͏͏ his͏͏ frustration,͏͏ sense͏͏ of͏͏ inadequacy,͏͏ and͏͏ desperate͏͏ need͏͏ to͏͏ break͏͏ free͏͏ from͏͏ monotony.͏͏ At͏͏ some͏͏ point,͏͏ we͏͏ all͏͏ feel͏͏ trapped͏͏ by͏͏ routine,͏͏ whether͏͏ it’s͏͏ the͏͏ grind͏͏ of͏͏ school,͏͏ the͏͏ monotony͏͏ of͏͏ work,͏͏ or͏͏ the͏͏ weight͏͏ of͏͏ societal͏͏ expectations.͏͏ But͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ reminds͏͏ us͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ way͏͏ we͏͏ confront͏͏ these͏͏ feelings͏͏ matters.͏͏ Jack͏͏ chooses͏͏ destruction,͏͏ lashing͏͏ out͏͏ at͏͏ his͏͏ family͏͏ and͏͏ losing͏͏ himself͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ Overlook’s͏͏ grip.͏͏ His͏͏ behavior͏͏ forces͏͏ us͏͏ to͏͏ reflect͏͏ on͏͏ our͏͏ own:͏͏ when͏͏ life͏͏ feels͏͏ meaningless,͏͏ what͏͏ do͏͏ we͏͏ hold͏͏ onto?͏͏ What͏͏ do͏͏ we͏͏ make͏͏ important?

Nietzsche’s͏͏ philosophy͏͏ suggests͏͏ that͏͏ meaning͏͏ isn’t͏͏ something͏͏ we͏͏ find—it’s͏͏ something͏͏ we͏͏ create.͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ tragedy͏͏ lies͏͏ in͏͏ his͏͏ failure͏͏ to͏͏ do͏͏ this.͏͏ Instead͏͏ of͏͏ embracing͏͏ the͏͏ absurdity͏͏ of͏͏ life͏͏ and͏͏ finding͏͏ value͏͏ in͏͏ his͏͏ relationships͏͏ or͏͏ creativity,͏͏ he͏͏ becomes͏͏ consumed͏͏ by͏͏ his͏͏ inability͏͏ to͏͏ escape͏͏ the͏͏ past.͏͏ Kubrick’s͏͏ meticulous͏͏ filmmaking͏͏ reinforces͏͏ this͏͏ sense͏͏ of͏͏ entrapment.͏͏ Every͏͏ frame͏͏ of͏͏ The͏͏ Shining͏͏ feels͏͏ deliberate,͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ eerie͏͏ symmetry͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ hotel’s͏͏ corridors͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ relentless͏͏ repetition͏͏ of͏͏ visual͏͏ motifs͏͏ like͏͏ the͏͏ typewriter͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ maze.͏͏ These͏͏ elements͏͏ aren’t͏͏ just͏͏ unsettling;͏͏ they’re͏͏ suffocating.͏͏ 

The͏͏ literal͏͏ and͏͏ symbolic͏͏ maze͏͏ is͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ film’s͏͏ most͏͏ potent͏͏ images.͏͏ As͏͏ Jack͏͏ chases͏͏ Danny͏͏ through͏͏ the͏͏ snow,͏͏ it’s͏͏ impossible͏͏ not͏͏ to͏͏ feel͏͏ the͏͏ oppressive͏͏ repetition͏͏ of͏͏ his͏͏ madness.͏͏ Every͏͏ path͏͏ leads͏͏ back͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ dreadful͏͏ conclusion.͏͏ Jameson͏͏ describes͏͏ this͏͏ sterility͏͏ as͏͏ follows:͏͏ “The͏͏ very͏͏ sterility͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ decor͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ relentless͏͏ sloughing͏͏ off͏͏ of͏͏ superimposed͏͏ moments͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ individual's͏͏ life͏͏ cycle͏͏ seemed͏͏ to͏͏ provide͏͏ a͏͏ grim͏͏ commentary͏͏ in͏͏ images͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ film's͏͏ optimistic͏͏ ideological͏͏ message” (98).͏͏ The͏͏ hedge͏͏ maze,͏͏ a͏͏ literal͏͏ trap͏͏ for͏͏ Jack,͏͏ is͏͏ also͏͏ a͏͏ powerful͏͏ metaphor͏͏ for͏͏ his͏͏ psychological͏͏ state.͏͏ Its͏͏ twisting͏͏ paths͏͏ mirror͏͏ the͏͏ spirals͏͏ of͏͏ his͏͏ mind,͏͏ folding͏͏ in͏͏ on͏͏ itself͏͏ until͏͏ there’s͏͏ no͏͏ escape.͏͏ As͏͏ he͏͏ chases͏͏ Danny͏͏ through͏͏ the͏͏ snow,͏͏ the͏͏ maze͏͏ becomes͏͏ a͏͏ graphic͏͏ portrayal͏͏ of͏͏ eternal͏͏ recurrence—where͏͏ every͏͏ turn͏͏ leads͏͏ back͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ dreadful͏͏ conclusion.͏͏ At͏͏ this͏͏ moment,͏͏ Jack͏͏ isn’t͏͏ just͏͏ a͏͏ father͏͏ or͏͏ a͏͏ writer;͏͏ he’s͏͏ just͏͏ a͏͏ man.͏͏ A͏͏ man͏͏ consumed͏͏ by͏͏ his͏͏ inability͏͏ to͏͏ confront͏͏ the͏͏ cyclical͏͏ nature͏͏ of͏͏ his͏͏ failures.͏͏ The͏͏ maze’s͏͏ symmetry͏͏ is enigmatic Kubrick’s͏͏ fascination͏͏ with͏͏ repetition,͏͏ reminding͏͏ us͏͏ that͏͏ without͏͏ self-awareness,͏͏ we͏͏ risk͏͏ losing͏͏ ourselves͏͏ in͏͏ our͏͏ own͏͏ obsessive thoughts.͏͏ The͏͏ maze͏͏ is a reflection͏͏ of͏͏ Jack’s mind,͏͏ folding͏͏ in͏͏ on͏͏ itself͏͏ until͏͏ there’s͏͏ no͏͏ escape.

Jack’s͏͏ story͏͏ resonates͏͏ cinematically͏͏ and͏͏ emotionally͏͏ because͏͏ it͏͏ reflects͏͏ a͏͏ universal͏͏ struggle:͏͏ the͏͏ search͏͏ for͏͏ meaning͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ world͏͏ that͏͏ often͏͏ feels͏͏ monotonous.͏͏ With͏͏ its͏͏ endless͏͏ routines͏͏ and͏͏ repetitive͏͏ tasks,͏͏ it’s͏͏ not͏͏ unusual͏͏ to͏͏ feel͏͏ as͏͏ though͏͏ life͏͏ is͏͏ closing͏͏ in͏͏ around͏͏ you.͏͏ I͏͏ hope͏͏ I’m͏͏ not͏͏ alone͏͏ in͏͏ wondering͏͏ whether͏͏ anything͏͏ I͏͏ do͏͏ truly͏͏ matters͏͏ during͏͏ those͏͏ stretches͏͏ when͏͏ life͏͏ feels͏͏ weighed͏͏ down͏͏ by͏͏ relentless͏͏ sameness.͏͏ But͏͏ Kubrick͏͏ reminds͏͏ us͏͏ that͏͏ meaning͏͏ isn’t͏͏ something͏͏ we͏͏ find—it’s͏͏ something͏͏ we͏͏ create.͏͏ Even͏͏ when͏͏ the͏͏ answers͏͏ to͏͏ life’s͏͏ biggest͏͏ questions͏͏ remain͏͏ elusive,͏͏ we͏͏ have͏͏ the͏͏ power͏͏ to͏͏ choose͏͏ what͏͏ we͏͏ value͏͏ and͏͏ what͏͏ gives͏͏ us͏͏ purpose.͏͏ It’s͏͏ a͏͏ haunting͏͏ yet͏͏ hopeful͏͏ message,͏͏ one͏͏ that͏͏ stays͏͏ with͏͏ me͏͏ long͏͏ after͏͏ the͏͏ credits͏͏ roll.

The͏͏ Shining͏͏ leaves͏͏ us͏͏ with͏͏ no͏͏ easy͏͏ answers,͏͏ but͏͏ it͏͏ does͏͏ offer͏͏ a͏͏ grim͏͏ kind͏͏ of͏͏ clarity.͏͏ Life’s͏͏ cycles͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ suffocating,͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ search͏͏ for͏͏ meaning͏͏ often goes hand in hand with despair.͏͏ However,͏͏ what͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ journey͏͏ ultimately͏͏ teaches͏͏ us͏͏ is͏͏ that͏͏ meaning͏͏ comes͏͏ from͏͏ what͏͏ we͏͏ choose͏͏ to͏͏ value.͏͏ Relationships,͏͏ creativity,͏͏ and͏͏ self-reflection͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ anchored͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ face͏͏ of͏͏ monotony,͏͏ but͏͏ only͏͏ if͏͏ we’re͏͏ willing͏͏ to͏͏ confront͏͏ the͏͏ abyss͏͏ rather͏͏ than͏͏ letting͏͏ it͏͏ consume͏͏ us.

Maybe͏͏ Nietzsche͏͏ was͏͏ right:͏͏ “Blessed͏͏ are͏͏ the͏͏ forgetful,͏͏ for͏͏ they͏͏ get͏͏ the͏͏ better͏͏ even͏͏ of͏͏ their͏͏ blunders” (143).͏͏ But͏͏ maybe͏͏ Kubrick’s͏͏ point͏͏ is͏͏ this:͏͏ forgetting͏͏ isn’t͏͏ always͏͏ an͏͏ option.͏͏ Sometimes,͏͏ the͏͏ only͏͏ way͏͏ out͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ maze͏͏ is͏͏ to͏͏ confront͏͏ its͏͏ twists͏͏ and͏͏ turns͏͏ head-on.͏͏ Jack͏͏ Torrance͏͏ loses͏͏ himself͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ Overlook,͏͏ but͏͏ his͏͏ story͏͏ reminds͏͏ us͏͏ that͏͏ even͏͏ when͏͏ the͏͏ world͏͏ feels͏͏ bleak͏͏ and͏͏ repetitive,͏͏ we͏͏ have͏͏ the͏͏ autonomy͏͏ to͏͏ choose͏͏ what͏͏ matters͏͏ in͏͏ our͏͏ lives.͏͏ For͏͏ me,͏͏ that’s͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ haunting—and͏͏ hopeful—message͏͏ of͏͏ all.

͏͏ Kubrick’s͏͏ genius͏͏ lies͏͏ in͏͏ his͏͏ ability͏͏ to͏͏ make͏͏ the͏͏ abstract͏͏ painfully͏͏ tangible.͏͏ The͏͏ Shining͏͏ isn’t͏͏ just͏͏ a͏͏ horror͏͏ film;͏͏ it’s͏͏ a͏͏ meditation͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ fragility͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ human͏͏ psyche͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ dangers͏͏ of͏͏ losing͏͏ ourselves͏͏ to͏͏ cycles͏͏ of͏͏ despair.͏͏ Jack͏͏ Torrance’s͏͏ fate͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ cautionary͏͏ tale,͏͏ a͏͏ reminder͏͏ that͏͏ while͏͏ we͏͏ may͏͏ feel͏͏ trapped͏͏ by͏͏ routine͏͏ or͏͏ overwhelmed͏͏ by͏͏ life’s͏͏ uncertainty,͏͏ we͏͏ always͏͏ have͏͏ a͏͏ choice.͏͏ Whether͏͏ it’s͏͏ through͏͏ art,͏͏ relationships,͏͏ or͏͏ self-reflection,͏͏ we͏͏ can͏͏ create͏͏ meaning͏͏ even͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ face͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ abyss.͏͏ Watching͏͏ Jack’s͏͏ descent͏͏ has͏͏ taught͏͏ me͏͏ to͏͏ value͏͏ the͏͏ things͏͏ that͏͏ ground͏͏ me—to͏͏ hold͏͏ onto͏͏ the͏͏ people͏͏ and͏͏ passions͏͏ that͏͏ make͏͏ life͏͏ worth͏͏ living,͏͏ even͏͏ when͏͏ it͏͏ feels͏͏ monotonous.͏͏ After͏͏ all,͏͏ life͏͏ may͏͏ be͏͏ inescapable,͏͏ but͏͏ how͏͏ we͏͏ navigate͏͏ it͏͏ defines͏͏ who͏͏ we͏͏ are.

Works Cited:

Nietzsche, Friedrich. Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future. Translated by Helen Zimmern, Macmillan, 1907, archive.org link.

Jameson, Fredric. "Historicism in The Shining." Brown University Reserves, library.brown.edu.