He'll Huff and He'll Puff and He'll Blow Your House Down: Domestic Violence and the Shining

Stephanie Lane Sutton

Writing and Rhetoric II: Writing Women Safe

Michelle Sayset

October 24, 2007

He'll Huff and He'll Puff and He'll Blow Your House Down:

Domestic Violence & The Shining

Although domestic violence might not be the first theme that comes to mind when one thinks of The Shining, the infamous "Here's Johnny" scene portrays quite accurately such a situation. Wendy and Danny, after being chased throughout the hotel with an axe, have turned to taking shelter in a bathroom - they are now cornered. Wendy's main concern is to save her child - she sends him down a snowbank out the bathroom window - but is not able to escape herself, and so takes up a knife. Her husband then begins breaking down the door, likening the situation to the story of The Three Little Pigs.

The actions and interactions of the characters in this scene follow the template of the most common domestic violence situations. The perpetrator coaxes to let him in, to let him beat her. Those not involved think he is crazy to even ask (after all, who would willingly and knowingly let someone beat oneself?), but this is a key characteristic of abusive relationships; the abuser believes he has control and, in many cases, the victim does as well, even if it seems that s/he has handed it over to the perpetrator. Wendy is cornered as her husband breaks down the door with his axe, all the while making dark anecdotes to himself, obviously aware that he is in control of the situation.

Wendy puts up a fight, but her horror and even vague naivety is still clear - it is as if she has been reduced to animalistic prey. She clutches the knife weakly, clearly hoping she won't have to use it against her husband, although he is trying to kill her (in this way, many domestic violence victims do not turn to self-defense and rather take the beatings than return blows to their loved ones). Her expression of fear is overwhelming and desperate. Her horrified screams have no effect on Jack, although he is more than shocked when she slices his hand - this