The Shining And Dick Hallorann Comparison

In both the novel and the film of The Shining, beyond the blood and gore, there is a distinct role of a person of color, Dick Hallorann, in relation to his white counterparts. In the novel by Stephen King, Dick is portrayed as a heroic conqueror, who selflessly endures the monstrous ghosts and ghouls, who are all white, of the Overlook hotel in order to save Danny and Wendy Torrance. He emerges victorious, and even helps the mother and son overcome their grief. However, in the film version, Stanley Kubrick frames Hallorann as a weak, insignificant individual in comparison to the whites around him. Hallorann is murdered almost immediately upon arrival to the hotel, and his efforts are not acknowledged. Whereas King illustrates that …show more content…
Dick asks, "You won't forget old friends, will you?" whereas Wendy replies with, "Danny wouldn't let me". She then "took his hand and kissed it" (King 655). By utilizing this warm diction, King establishes a sense of camaraderie and comfort between Dick, Wendy, and Danny. A "friend" is someone a person considers not only their equal, but also a beloved person they can trust and appreciate. Wendy also "took his hand and kissed it," emphasizing that Dick is not only someone Wendy and Danny possess affection for, but also someone they see as equivalent to them; a person one holds hands with and kisses is one whose value is beyond their status or social class. By stating that "Danny wouldn't let" her forget Hallorann's courageous journey, Wendy further strengthens the fact that she and Danny recognize the magnitude of his sacrifice. The novel then concludes with Dick on one side of Danny, as Wendy "sat down on Danny's other side and the three of them sat on the end of the dock in the afternoon sun" (King 659). King's unifying and peaceful diction provides a sense of solace. He emphasizes that all "three of them", one uniform unit, sit in the sun, a source of power and light. They are all placed in an equal level and sharing equal power, solidifying Dick's success in overcoming the racial barrier. He is now equivalent to Wendy and Danny, two whites. The three are the only ones in the film who “speak authentically and sincerely to one another”, as stated by David Cook in his article, “American Horror: The Shining”, further highlighting King’s point that blacks truly are capable of fitting in among whites (Cook 3). However, in the film, Dick's efforts are never mentioned, let alone appreciated. Kubrick reduces Dick and his heroic attempts to simply another dead body splattered in blood, which Wendy sees and recognizes for merely a split second before turning her attention away. He