Related to Violence as Play but still distinct, Play vs. Harm centers around the intention, the tone, and the delivery.
During the final sequences, both Jack and Wendy are calling out for Danny— yet one parent is doing so to help him and the other is doing so to harm him.
During No.44’s sequence where Danny is lured into Room 237 by a symbol associated with Jack, he calls out for his mother.
When Jack and Wendy are in bed during No..24 and he’s taunting her about how it’s just getting into the habit of writing everyday (which is, in fact, actual helpful advice to beating writer’s block), is less offensive as when he curses at her for breaking his concentration in No.31’s scene, but this comparison is a great way to understand the balance.
In this image · No.12