The Shining

by

Stephen King

Dr. Edmonds Character Analysis

The doctor in Sidewinder to whom Wendy and Jack take Danny after they find him nearly catatonic in the bathroom at the Overlook Hotel. Danny tells Dr. Edmonds all about his ability to read people’s minds as well as his imaginary friend, Tony, and his visions. Dr. Edmonds gives Danny a clean bill of health and tells Jack and Wendy that he is merely an intelligent boy with a keen sense of intuition. Wendy thinks Dr. Edmonds is “full of shit” and instead believes in Danny’s power to “shine.” Dr. Edmonds is with the group of snowmobilers who meet Hallorann, Wendy, and Danny halfway down Sidewinder Pass after the Overlook Hotel explodes and burns to the ground.
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Dr. Edmonds Character Timeline in The Shining

The timeline below shows where the character Dr. Edmonds appears in The Shining. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 17: The Doctor’s Office
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Danny sits in his underwear in Dr. Edmonds ’s office as the kind man puts electrodes on Danny’s head for an electroencephalogram. The... (full context)
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
As Dr. Edmonds joins Danny in the next room, he notices that Danny’s hand is lightly wrapped in... (full context)
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
Danny tells Dr. Edmonds that he has never seen Tony up close, and he doesn’t know how old he... (full context)
Fear, the Paranormal, and Reality Theme Icon
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
Danny continues and tells Dr. Edmonds that Tony sometimes shows him what is going to happen, and other times Tony just... (full context)
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
...visions are so awful. He only remembers “Redrum,” but doesn’t know what that is either. Dr. Edmonds asks if Danny can make Tony come now, and Danny agrees to try. He thinks... (full context)
Fear, the Paranormal, and Reality Theme Icon
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
...[his] medicine,” and then Danny pulls himself from the darkness and opens his eyes to Dr. Edmonds . Dr. Edmonds asks Danny what he saw, but Danny can’t remember. He asks if... (full context)
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Dr. Edmonds sends Danny to the waiting room and asks to speak to Jack and Wendy alone.... (full context)
Family  Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
Dr. Edmonds asks if the move from Vermont occurred under stressful circumstances, and Jack admits that they... (full context)
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
...this is the first time they have openly discussed divorce, alcoholism, or child abuse, and Dr. Edmonds claims that this is their problem. Danny is a perfectly healthy boy with an active... (full context)
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
As Dr. Edmonds talks, Wendy isn’t sure she agrees. Dr. Edmonds doesn’t live with Danny and has never... (full context)
Fear, the Paranormal, and Reality Theme Icon
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Dr. Edmonds explains that all children exhibit “schizoid behavior,” and adults have basically accepted that children are... (full context)
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
Dr. Edmonds asks if Danny knows about Aileen, and Wendy says that she doesn’t think so. Wendy... (full context)
Chapter 21: Night Thoughts
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
...fidget during the phone call, she was convinced that Danny has more than the intuition Dr. Edmonds claimed. When she helped Danny get ready for bed, she causally mentioned that Al called,... (full context)
Chapter 22: In the Truck
Fear, the Paranormal, and Reality Theme Icon
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Family  Theme Icon
...told Danny all of this, and Danny says he didn’t. Danny just knows, even though Dr. Edmonds didn’t believe him. Wendy tells Danny not to think about Dr. Edmonds. She believes in... (full context)
Chapter 27: Catatonic
Fear, the Paranormal, and Reality Theme Icon
Family  Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
...she can convince Jack to help her get Danny down the mountain and back to Dr. Edmonds ’s office. (full context)
Chapter 29: Kitchen Talk
Fear, the Paranormal, and Reality Theme Icon
Precognition, Second Sight, and the Shining Theme Icon
Family  Theme Icon
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
Alcoholism and Abuse Theme Icon
Time Theme Icon
...know about that, and she says that Danny told her. Jack reminds her that the Dr. Edmonds said Danny doesn’t really have “second sight,” and Wendy says that Dr. Edmonds is a... (full context)
Chapter 57: Exit
Isolation and Insanity Theme Icon
...Danny, Wendy, and Hallorann are saved—help has finally come. They have brought clothes, brandy, and Dr. Edmonds . (full context)