In The Shining, it is often stated that Jack begins the story as the main antagonist, an antagonist he would have followed regardless of his choices. However, King breaks down Jack Torrance's flaws. and the inner demons that allow him to be a tragic hero. Jack doesn't start out as a murderous killer, but rather as a father trying to do right by his family. He may have a powerful character, but he always does his best to keep it. under control. On his path to becoming the antagonist of the story, he first undergoes a downward spiral of sanity, caused in part because of his past and the haunting experiences that arise from it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom one. essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get original essay Initially, Jack Torrance is presented as a caring and determined father, ready to change his life. Jack is shown to have a deep and sincere love for his son. , that he really loves his son. On the phone, he looks at his son and expresses inwardly: “Jack felt a wave of almost desperate love for his boy” (King 52). It's clear that Jack loves his boy very much, and he seems to be proud of it. This would be a factor that would push him to want to do better for his family. It is this love for his son that often helps keep him centered throughout the story, as his love for Danny seems to have a stabilizing effect on Jack. He seems determined to finish his piece and continue to stay in the wagon. After spending some time at the Overlook Hotel, things begin to return to normal: "Down the hall in the bedroom, Wendy could hear the typewriter that Jack had taken from downstairs working animate for thirty seconds, be quiet for a minute or two, then moan briefly again. [...] Jack had not written so regularly since the second year of their marriage” (King 174). At the beginning of his job interview, Mr. Ullman informs Jack, "'Yes, Mr. Shockley told me you don't drink anymore'" (King 10). Jack swore off drinking, a destructive behavior that was close to destroying his marriage, and returned his attention to his literary works. In the Overlook, away from all the stresses of life, being with his loving family, he can continue working on the piece he was never able to finish. Throughout the book, Jack's character seems to grow and get a little out of control. , although it was kept under control for months by him. Jack vows not to lose his temper, especially after losing it and lashing out at Danny. Introspective about the event that has just taken place, Jack internally converses with himself: "(From now on, you will keep your cool. It doesn't matter. What.)" (King 198). Every time he got angry with Danny, it meant further distancing himself from his family. His temper caused his family a lot of grief when he was drinking, and now that he is sober, it scares them even more because it could mean he could slip back into his old self. Indicative of his shortening fuse, Jack exposes his rage towards Ullman during a phone call, in which he has no idea why he called in the first place. Considering his actions after the call, “He sat on the stool, breathing hard, a little scared now, wondering why in God's name he had called Ullman in the first place. (You lost your temper again, Jack.)” (King 268). His already short and fiery temper, which he had under control, continues to become more and more out of his control, to the point of causing him to question the short-sightedness of his actions. After the explosions and the depressions, it is Jack's haunting past that contributes to his spiral :.