Jack Torrance - Horror character research

Jack Torrance

John Daniel “Jack” Torrance is the main ‘villain’ in the novel and film of the same name ‘The Shining’. He was created by author Stephen King who also wrote the novel Carrie.

In the novel Jack Torrance grew up in New Hampshire. He is a writer and former teacher. He has troubles with his wife, Wendy and his son, Danny, due to alcoholism and an unstable temper. He accepts a position as a care-taker in an isolated hotel, located in Colorado, for the winter. He is hopeful that this new position will fix the relationship issues with his family and re-establish his career. He is also hopeful that the isolation will give him time to write a play.

The hotel that jack takes his position in is haunted by ghosts who have died within, in violent manners. The hotel is also a host to a being of unknown origin, who wants to control Jack into killing his son Danny and harness Danny’s “shining” in order to “break free” from the hotel. Jack gives in to the ghost’s of the hotel’s demands to kill his family and becomes determined to kill his wife and son.

The film adaptation of the novel features Jack Nicholson in the role of Jack Torrance. The film strays in a few places from the original text, for example the film leaves out information about his traumatic childhood. It also implies that the character is insane from the start and not driven insane by the ghosts of the hotel.