What hides behind the page?

Psychoanalysis, Seduction and Horror Literature

Abstract

Understanding the importance of art for psychoanalysis, this research sought to conduct a reading of the book The Shining, by Stephen King, from a psychoanalytic perspective. Our methodology is based on the search for “dissonant notes” that draw attention by threatening the supposed image of coherence of the analyzed book, to then return to psychoanalytic theory, seeking concepts that may relate to the work. From this, we perceived how Danny’s shining powers unveil the dimension of sexuality, which emerges in an invasive, enigmatic, and violent manner. We also observed that supernatural powers exacerbate the boy’s narcissism, leading him to attract other characters. This led us to the theme of seduction in psychoanalytic theory. After a brief overview of the evolution of this concept, parallels were drawn between infantile seduction and primal seduction in psychoanalysis and in The Shining. Infantile seduction appears as a threat, stemming from adult figures and the hauntings of the Overlook Hotel, which desire Danny in a violent and sexual manner. Primal seduction, which occurs to the child who is exposed to enigmatic signifiers of sexual content that she does not understand, largely resembles Danny’s relationship with his supernatural powers, which present to him words and enigmatic scenes of sexual content that he cannot make sense of. Finally, we reflected on the accusation that psychoanalysis would be “seductive” in its work with art, by inserting sexual meanings into a work that did not have any such content, as well as on the “horror book,” which is capable of, through the word, speaking of the fear caused by the word itself.