REVISED VERSION

             In many cases, kids can have as much—if not more—power than adults do. This is the case in a book called The Shining by Stephen King. It was about a man, Jack Torrence, who took care of a hotel called “The Overlook Hotel” while the owner was away for the winter. Jack brought his wife and kids to the hotel with him. In the past, Jack had a drinking problem, but he has been sober for a while now. People might think that Jack has the power throughout this text, but I think that it is his 5-year-old son, Danny who has control. Throughout this text Danny’s parents’ actions revolve around him.

            One place that this is shown is when Danny comes out of room number 217—a room that he was warned not to go into—with bruises on his neck. Wendy, Danny’s mom and Jack’s wife, immediately assumes that it was Jack that hurt Danny since he had done so 3 years earlier. She snatches Danny away from Jack and takes him to hide. Jack knows that he didn’t do anything, and it makes him crazy. It drives him to drink for the first time in a very long time. This is an example of how Danny has the power in the text, because Wendy tries to run away with Danny based on something that happened to him.

            Another thing is that in the book, the author gives you the message that Jack and Wendy do love each other, but not very strongly.  At least that is how I interpret it. The main reason that they are staying together is for Danny. Danny loves them both so much.  He would hate it most if his parents got divorced. On the other hand, Wendy feels that Danny loves Jack more.  That brings her even closer to the family, because she wants Danny to love HER more. Jack feels that Wendy is trying to steal Danny from him, so he tries to get closer to Wendy so that she can’t steal Danny away. Danny brings the family together, so whatever he does makes his parents do things.

            The final and obvious reason why I think Danny has power in the text is because Danny literally has a power. He has the Shining. He has a little friend named Tony that shows him things. Nobody else can see Tony. Danny can read minds and control things, and see ghosts and such. He can tell things that are happening right now, even if the incident isn’t where he is. He can communicate with someone else with the Shining by sending thoughts to them. In a way, he can also read the future. At first Wendy doesn’t believe that Danny has a power, and she has a doctor look at him. As the story continues however, she grows to believe Danny, and she asks him questions about his father. One thing she asks him  “Is your father drinking again, Danny?” Danny has power in this part of the text because his mother acts based on Danny’s literal power.

            In the book, there are many examples of where Danny has power, whether it is literally a power or, just being in control, he has it. Jack and Wendy are married, but the real reason why they are still together is because of Danny. He brings the family together. He is also the reason why his parents do the things that they do. Many people think that Jack might have power, but they are wrong. Danny is the one with the power.