Jack Torrance's Insanity In 'The Shining'

The Shining is no doubt a book that terrifies the reader, and it is often the supernatural themes that are believed to solely create this fear. However, there are two aspects at play in the novel with one being ignored in favour of the supernatural. This is the portrayal of madness in Jack Torrance, and how it is being represented as uncontrollable and inhuman, so it can be used as an agency of terror and not be explored fairly. Although, Jack Torrance could be interpreted as not suffering from insanity which diverts these negative images onto the supernatural instead.
The narrative follows Jack Torrance spiralling into insanity — a process enhanced by isolation, and repressed anger. Jack is never truly stable in the beginning due to the

This lack of power stems from being fired, shunned by his wife due to his alcoholism, as well as resentment towards George Hatfield. Ullman subordinates Jack through the positioning of him ‘behind the desk and Jack in front of it’ (p.5) which creates a clear distinction of power between the two during the job interview. Jack is clearly being positioned to connote inexperience, and inferiority in comparison to Ullman who is constantly in front of Jack or towering above him. The tension between Ullman and Jack is a reminder of who is successfully being a ‘real’ man, which is emphasised by how Jack is ‘much aware of the scent of Ullman’s cologne’ (p.4). The cologne signifies an expensive lifestyle which Jack could envy, but also the idea of the dominant scent is animalistic since the masculine male is territorial and desires to own the area. There are the competing male scents, and Ullman’s is the ruling one which blankets over Jack’s scent thus enforcing this idea of inferiority and lack of