I don't understand Stephan Kings "The Shining." Is Jack Nicholsons

Question: I don't understand Stephan Kings "The Shining!." Is Jack Nicholsons character a ghost!? !?

I only ask because at the end of the movie they show him in a picture that says 1921 but the movie takes place in the 1980's!. Just curious what other peoples thoughts are!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I think the picture at the end is supposed to be symbolic!.

Throughout the film, he is seeing people that existed in the past in the hotel!. At the end, it is the hotel that causes him to go crazy, and eventually to die!. Him being in the picture may be to symbolize that he has been sucked into the world of the hotel - becoming one of the people from the past that is also stuck there!.

Alternatively, it could be that the picture is linking his past with the hotel, maybe in another life!. It could be a sign that him coming to the hotel was part of his destiny!.

Unfortunately, the book doesn't shed much light on this, as it is not mentioned at all!. The film with Jack Nicholson is Stanley Kubrick's, and that part is one of his additions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

he is confined in that hotel with his wife and child and he ends up going crazy, he thinks there are people there who are not!. like the bartender and the other guests!. if you watch it from beginning to end and really watch it you will understand it betterWww@QuestionHome@Com

You know, that's a good point!. I've always thought he was just a man who went crazy in the hotel!. I'll be interested to see who has the answer to that!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Jack goes crazy becuase he becomes possesed by another man killed in the cabin years before!.Www@QuestionHome@Com