Diksia.com - We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a novel by Shirley Jackson, one of the most influential writers of horror and suspense in the 20th century. Published in 1962, it was Jackson’s last completed work before her death in 1965.
The novel tells the story of the Blackwood sisters, Mary Katherine (Merricat) and Constance, who live in a secluded mansion with their uncle Julian, the only survivors of a family tragedy that killed their parents and other relatives six years ago.
The novel is narrated by Merricat, an 18-year-old girl who has a vivid imagination and a penchant for magic and superstition. She is fiercely protective of her sister Constance, who suffers from agoraphobia and never leaves the house.
Constance was accused of poisoning the family with arsenic-laced sugar, but was acquitted for lack of evidence. However, the villagers still believe she is guilty and shun the Blackwoods, who have become outcasts in their own community.
The novel is a masterpiece of Gothic fiction, blending elements of mystery, horror, and psychological thriller. Jackson creates a haunting atmosphere of dread and suspense, as she gradually reveals the secrets and motives behind the poisoning and the sisters’ isolation.
She also explores the themes of family loyalty, social alienation, paranoia, and guilt, as well as the power of imagination and fantasy to cope with reality.
The novel is also a commentary on the oppressive norms and expectations of society, especially for women, who are often confined to domestic roles and judged by their appearance and behavior.
The novel has been praised by critics and readers alike for its originality, style, and impact. It is widely regarded as one of Jackson’s best works, along with her short story The Lottery and her novel The Haunting of Hill House.
It has also influenced many other writers of horror and suspense, such as Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Joyce Carol Oates, and Donna Tartt. The novel has been adapted into a play, a musical, a graphic novel, and a film.
If you are looking for a novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and haunt you long after you finish reading it, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a perfect choice.
Here are some details about the novel that you might want to know before diving into it:
- Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
- Author: Shirley Jackson
- Genres: Gothic fiction, psychological thriller
- Chapter: 10
- Language: English
- Publisher: Viking Press
- Publication date: September 21, 1962
- Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
- Awards: Nominated for the 1963 Hugo Award for Best Novel
The novel is recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Gothic fiction with a touch of horror and mystery
- Unreliable narrators and twisted characters
- Psychological exploration of human nature and society
- Dark humor and irony
- Atmospheric and lyrical writing
The following is an overview of the novel’s plot summary, characters and character development, theme and message, writing style, pros and cons, comparison to other works, and where to read it.
Plot Summary
The novel begins with Merricat going to the village to buy groceries and books. She faces hostility and ridicule from the villagers, who taunt her with a rhyme about her sister’s alleged crime:
Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea? Oh no, said Merricat, you’ll poison me.
Merricat returns to her home, where she lives with Constance and Uncle Julian. She loves her home, which is surrounded by a fence, a gate, and a moat. She also loves her sister, who cooks delicious meals for them and takes care of Uncle Julian, who is wheelchair-bound and obsessed with writing his memoirs of the day when the family died.
Merricat hates change and tries to protect her home and her sister from any outsiders or threats. She believes in magic and has various rituals and charms that she uses to ward off evil. She also buries or nails things to trees or fences as offerings or sacrifices.
One day, a cousin named Charles Blackwood arrives at the house. He claims to be concerned about the sisters and wants to help them reconnect with the world. However, Merricat senses that he has ulterior motives and dislikes him immediately. She thinks he is a ghost or a demon or a witch.
She also notices that he is interested in the family’s safe, where their father kept his money and valuables. Charles tries to win over Constance and Uncle Julian by being charming and polite, but Merricat sees through his act and resists his attempts to change their routine or invade their space. She also tries to sabotage his belongings or scare him away with her magic.
