who else believes that Mr Ullman was in on it?

[Sindy]

I really, honestly believe that Mr Ullman was in on the hotels plans for the years that he had been there. Grady and Jack weren't really chosen by Ullman but by the hotel when they came for their interviews...
what do you think?

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Interesting theory. Never thought about it before, but the idea makes sense

[Melek]

Looks sensible to me too. Though we don't have a proof, it has a high possibility.

[Cathy]

Sindy wrote: "I really, honestly believe that Mr Ullman was in on the hotels plans for the years that he had been there. Grady and Jack weren't really chosen by Ullman but by the hotel when they came for their ..."

I agree with the idea that the hotel did choose them maybe even before the interview.

[Brian]

But if you remember, Ullman didn't like Jack and was only giving him the job because of Jack's friend, who was one of Ullman's bosses. If it had been up to Ullman, he would have thrown Jack out on his ear.

[Cathy]

Brian wrote: "But if you remember, Ullman didn't like Jack and was only giving him the job because of Jack's friend, who was one of Ullman's bosses. If it had been up to Ullman, he would have thrown Jack out on..."

I failed to remember that fact. Is it possible the hotel was always "in charge" all along?-so no matter what Jack had to "come home" to the hotel. Maybe it was his destiny all along? I don't know-too far out there?

[Brian]

Yeah, I guess you could look at it as Jack's destiny. He was a haunted man who needed a haunted hotel to feel at home. (view spoiler)[But personally I wouldn't say that the hotel was "in charge," that it led Jack to it. The Overlook is powerful, but only up to a point. It preys mostly on the weak, and then only if they come through its doors. It couldn't get Halloran and it couldn't get Danny, and Danny is who it really wanted. It was just using Jack to get Danny. Now, *if* it had gotten Danny, with all his power, *then* it probably would have been able to extend its reach, and no one would have been safe (except maybe Carrie : -)<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Sindy]

Everything that happened in Jack's past all seemed to lead him to that hotel. And maybe even his friend...Al. I'm imagining the hotel scanning his (Al's) mind for a perfectly broken man with a family, then hitting the jack pot with Danny.

[Tim]

Mr Ullman was just as much "in on it" as The Overlook was on having any desire for Jack. Destiny is not a theme in this novel. If The Overlook did scan Daniel and think It hit the jackpot, It severely underestimated Daniels' Shine.

[Jessica]

I don't think that is it. If that is the case, why did the hotel allow Dick to stay and come back year after year? Mr. Ullman ( who I thought was a pom pass wind bag) didn't like Jack, but maybe it, the hotel, made it easier for him to accept Al's "suggestion" that he hire Jack.

[[deleted user]]

No. Interesting theory, but no.

[Brian]

That's the thing: the hotel didn't "let" Dick stay; Dick stayed because he wanted to. The Overlook is not all-powerful -- not even close, which is why it failed to get Danny. Its power is limited. Not only can it do little to people without a decent shining, but it can't even necessarily take over or scare off the ones who *do* shine. I don't see any reason to try to make it out to be more powerful than it is.