88 pages 2 hours read

Stephen King

The Shining

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977

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Part 3, Chapters 19-23Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3: “The Wasps’ Nest”

Part 3, Chapter 19 Summary: “Outside 217”

During lunch, Wendy wants Danny to go play outside. He remembers that Hallorann said he saw something nasty related to the topiaries.

Inside, Jack calls an attorney about the bug bomb. He believes the product was defective, and that the company should be liable for the wasps that survived and stung Danny. The attorney says they do not have a case. It would be too hard to prove that Jack used it correctly, given that no one witnessed him spraying the wasps’ nest.

Upstairs, Danny is on his way to room 217. Again, he remembers the story of Bluebeard. Outside the door, he realizes he has the passkey in his hand; he can enter if he chooses. Then he remembers that he promised Hallorann he would not go into the room, and he manages to pull himself away.

On his way back, he sees the fire extinguisher again. As he tries to convince himself that it’s only a piece of equipment, its nozzle falls off the hook when he gets close. He starts to run when he imagines the nozzle full of wasps. He looks back from the top of the stairs. The hose has not moved.