Bugs Bunny becomes a symbol for Danny within the first scene.
Wearing a shirt with Bugs Bunny on it (only the ears are visible). Bugs Bunny is also seen as a stuffed doll in No.26, it’s positioned on the trike in the Lobby as Jack throws his tennis ball.
He’s called “Doc” by his parents, another signifier of the character— but we know it because Halloran calls him “Doc” first.
It’s interesting that the pet name the Torrance’s have for their son is only established when Halloran lies about how he knows about it. Yes it shows the man’s talent for reading minds, but it also speaks to the level of intimacy the two characters will experience that Danny does not experience from his parents.
The only times Wendy and Jack call Danny “Doc” is in No.40 when Wendy pleads to Danny to let Jack sleep — safety and intimacy as a way to keep safe—and Jack calls Danny “Doc” as he greets him to his lap in No.41. Safety and intimacy and then tension and aggression.
Bugs Bunny is a prominent connection to Danny made across the whole film.
From introducing Danny with Bugs Bunny’s ears poking out to literally calling him “Doc”, by the time we see the stuffed toy on the tricycle, we’ve mentally cemented the two together.
Another cartoon from a bygone era, Bugs emerged around the end of the 1930s and beginning of the 1940s. Yes he’s hunted and has problems, but his mental quickness always gets him out of trouble. In this way, we can see how Danny is able to escape Jack in the end is made.
There are also additional signifiers that the rabbit (and Danny’s escape methods) are reference to Br’er Rabbit from Uncle Remus, although it’s a larger scope of a breakdown.
In this image · No.4
Danny wears Bugs Bunny on his shirt.