Overcoming Addiction

King focuses on Dan’s fight to overcome addiction not only in order to demonstrate how difficult it can be to stay sober but also to describe how rewarding sobriety can be. Even in the early days of Dan’s sobriety, he rejoices in the way he feels without alcohol though he still craves it. His experience with AA and the support system he finds there seem to be the only things the keep him from returning to drink.

King describes Dan’s life before sobriety in order for the reader to understand how little Dan had to live for. Dan drank because it kept him from having nightmares about the Overlook and because it kept the shining quiet. Other than that, there were no benefits to drinking. Dan could not hold down a job or keep up a relationship. He allowed his anger to...