12 Invaluable Life Lessons We Learnt From Stephen King Novels

4. Don't Run Away From Your Fears - The Shining

Every character in this book is running away from something. Jack is running away from society to ostensibly complete his play but we know he's really trying to get away from the stigma of losing his teaching job. Eventually Wendy tries to run away from Jack; Wendy, Danny and Dick Halloran eventually flee the Overlook Hotel. Ironically, the time when Jack figures that the only way he can save his family is to leave the Overlook, and that's the time when he is most vulnerable and overcome by the hotel's spirits. Confronting your fears isn't easy, but it's the only way you can eventually be rid of them. Dick's advice to Danny is that the spirits are like "pictures in a book". Danny can see them but they can't hurt him, only make him feel bad. That's what confronting your fears is about. Sure, it feels uncomfortable when you face that bully or go for that job interview but that confrontation doesn't last forever. Running away from the fear only keeps it out there somewhere and maintains its power over you. Of course, I wouldn't suggest that this applies to seeing the Kubrick film of this book. Even King said that he didn't understand why people thought it was the scariest film they've ever seen. So this is one you can feel free to run away from.