INSIDE THE MAZE

It is probably worth explaining the myth of the Minotaur and the Labyrinth. Greek mythology is such that a fearsome creature - a Minotaur, cross between a man and an animal such a bull - lived inside a vast maze - the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth was designed in such a manner that once inside, it was to all intents and purposes impossible for anyone to find their way out.

The Kubrick FAQ (at www.visual-memory.co.uk) states this expliclity :

In mythology, the only way for the Labyrinth to be conquered was for someone to ascertain the layout of maze by either memorising the layout of the maze, or leaving a trail of breadcrumbs - much like Wendy would need to - to prevent getting lost in the kitchen.

Inside the maze, the dark forces both battle for control of the diminishing Jack, and also for possession of the child, which they may intend to use in a similiar fashion as an antenna for the Overlooks psychic signal : here, Kubricks use of the television as a motif for non-verbal communication is clear. Television is a medium for communicating with those who have the appropriate equipment. Some do so with the power of their minds. Others with transmitters. In his current state, Jack cannot communicate anything but violence, and fear, and hatred.

But we�ve not seen Jack inside the maze, and he appears to be lost physically, but also lost within himself. It also appears to be snowing, a device that works effectively on many levels : it allows Jack to track Danny through his footprints, and yet the snow (which is never seen inside the maze, but outside, and reflected in a thin drizzle of snow and wind) is serving to cover Jack�s footprints. He can�t go back on himself as he doesn�t know the way back - there are no footprints.

But also, and this is never seen, the viewer themselves are disorientated within the maze through the innovate use of the steadicam, which constantly shifts and circles the actors so that the viewer is unable to place themselves anywhere except somewhere lost inside the maze, and the implication, as Jack tried to retreat on himself but is faced with walls and dead ends at his every turn, that the hotel has shifted and moved the walls of the maze to contain him within. What happened to Jack must remain a mystery, the secrets of the Overlook must be kept, and those who do not care for the Overlook, find that The Overlook will take care of them to protect itself.

Trapped inside the maze, limping, inarticulate and grunting like an animal, Jack�s final regression is to that of a non-person. He resembles a cross between a werewolf and the unnamed lead character (also known as The Moonwatcher) in the opening segment of 2001. His dialogue earlier in the film : �Hair of the dog that bit me�, and his quotation of lines from The Big Bad Wolf Nursery Rhyme further show the link between man and animal, as as exhibiting his regression to an immature emotional state.

By this stage, The Overlook has in effect, absorbed his personality and left Jack with a retarded shell of a personality. Having stripped Jack of all that is of use to it, and having failed The Overlook in his responsibilities (as with all the responsibilities Jack has tried to handle : father, lover, writer, he has failed), The Overlook discards Jack and absorbs him into it�s psyche.