The Shining And Hitchcock Essay

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Recommended: Stephen King fascination with horror

The texts Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and The Shining, written by Stephen King, both explore the theme of horror through the use of psychologically disturbed protagonists and key techniques. Psycho surrounds the lives of Marion Crane, who is on the run after stealing $40,000, and psychopathic motel owner, Norman Bates. Bates is unable to handle the guilt encompassing his mother’s murder, resulting in the murder of anyone he feels sexually attracted to. The Shining explores Jack Torrance’s occupation of the isolated Overlook Hotel, as well as his wife, Wendy and son, Danny. As Jack’s writing continues to render unsuccessful, Danny’s psychic premonitions gradually become disturbing. This ends up resulting in Jack realising how much he loves Danny, letting him escape, and blowing himself up using the hotel boiler. Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King both explore the theme of horror using techniques such as characterisations, stylistic features, symbols, motifs and setting.
Jack Torrance (The Shining) and Norman Bates (Psycho) both share one key characteristic; they are both …show more content…

As Norman Bates is divided into two characters, “Norma” and “Norman,” so is the Bates Motel. There is the hotel where the residents stay, and then there is where Norma stays. It is also divided into city areas and rural areas. The city areas are filled with normal people, living normal lives, whereas the rural areas comprising of dark roads and ominous dangers; stormy weather and eerily unoccupied motel. Diverting off of Main Street leads to areas of madness and terror. The Overlook Hotel has a history of violence and questionable deaths. It is distant from civilisation, which leads to the development of Jack Torrance’s insanity. Psycho and The Shining were set within a similar time period. The Shining is written in two significant time eras, 1945, the end of World War 2 and 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam

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