Mortality Quotes in The Shining

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"He murdered his little girls with a hatchet, his wife with a shotgun, and himself the same way. His leg was broken. Undoubtedly so drunk he fell downstairs." (1.60)

Ullman is describing the fate of Delbert Grady and family when they stayed the winter at the Overlook. As is so often the case in The Shining, death and alcohol are never far from each other.

Quote #2

"I figure there's maybe forty-fifty people died in this hotel since my grandfather opened it for business in 1910." (3.48)

What do you think? Is Watson's body count accurate? He claims there's nothing fishy about any of those deaths. Is he in denial, innocent of the facts, or is he deliberately misleading Jack?

Quote #3

REDRUM REDRUM REDRUM (4.53)

OK, for some reason, Tony explains MURDER to Danny by showing him the word backwards in the mirror. Since Tony operates on some kind of subconscious level, and is really a part of Danny, it makes some kind of sense, and deepens the mystery and intrigue of the tale.