We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (Review)

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.

Charles and Merricat clash frequently, and their conflict escalates when Charles discovers that Merricat has been hiding his pipe, matches, and cigarettes in her room. He accuses her of being a thief and a lunatic, and threatens to punish her.

He also tells Constance that she should get rid of Merricat and leave the house with him. Constance defends Merricat and tells Charles that she loves her sister and will never leave her. Charles becomes angry and violent, and tries to force Constance to open the safe. Merricat intervenes and sets fire to his bed with his pipe and matches. The fire spreads quickly and engulfs the house.

Merricat and Constance manage to escape the fire, but Uncle Julian dies from the shock and smoke inhalation. The villagers arrive at the scene and watch the house burn. They also loot and vandalize the house, taking whatever they can find or destroying what they can’t.

They mock and harass the sisters, who hide in the woods until nightfall. They then return to the house, which is partly ruined but still standing. They salvage what they can from the debris and barricade themselves in the kitchen, which is relatively intact.

Charles also returns to the house, looking for the safe, which he thinks has survived the fire. He tries to break into the kitchen, but Merricat and Constance ignore him and pretend he doesn’t exist. He eventually gives up and leaves, never to return.

Merricat and Constance decide to stay in the house forever, cutting off all contact with the outside world. They live on canned food and water from the well. They also clean and decorate the kitchen with their remaining possessions, making it cozy and comfortable. They are happy and content with each other’s company, and ignore the villagers, who continue to gossip and stare at them from afar.

The novel ends with Merricat saying:

We are so happy; we have always lived in the castle.

Characters and Character Development

The novel has four main characters:

Mary Katherine (Merricat) Blackwood

The narrator and protagonist of the novel. She is 18 years old, but acts much younger. She has a vivid imagination and a penchant for magic and superstition. She is fiercely loyal to her sister Constance, whom she loves more than anything. She hates change and outsiders, and tries to protect her home and her sister from any threats.

She is also the one who poisoned the family six years ago, because she hated them and wanted to live alone with Constance. She feels no remorse or guilt for her crime, but rather a sense of satisfaction and relief. She is an unreliable narrator, who often distorts or omits facts, or lies to herself or others.

She is also a complex and ambiguous character, who can be seen as either a sympathetic victim of abuse and neglect, or a sociopathic murderer who deserves punishment.

Constance Blackwood

Merricat’s older sister and co-protagonist of the novel. She is 28 years old, but acts much older. She is beautiful, kind, gentle, and domestic. She loves cooking, gardening, and taking care of Uncle Julian. She also loves Merricat, whom she treats as a child.

She suffers from agoraphobia, which prevents her from leaving the house or facing the world. She was accused of poisoning the family six years ago, but was acquitted for lack of evidence. However, she still feels guilty and responsible for what happened, even though she didn’t do it.

She also feels trapped and lonely in her isolated life, but is too afraid to change it. She is a passive and submissive character, who lets others make decisions for her or influence her. She is also a tragic character, who has lost everything she cared about except Merricat.

Uncle Julian Blackwood

Merricat and Constance’s uncle and co-survivor of the poisoning. He is in his late seventies or early eighties, and is wheelchair-bound. He suffers from physical and mental deterioration, which affects his memory, speech, and behavior.

He is obsessed with writing his memoirs of the day when the family died, which he calls “the last night”. He often relives or recounts the events of that night, sometimes accurately, sometimes inaccurately.

He also provides some background information about the family history and dynamics, as well as some clues about the poisoning and the sisters’ personalities. He is a sympathetic and humorous character, who adds some comic relief and irony to the novel. He dies from the fire that Merricat sets in the house.

Charles Blackwood

Merricat and Constance’s cousin and antagonist of the novel. He is in his thirties or forties, and is handsome, confident, and charismatic. He claims to be concerned about the sisters and wants to help them reconnect with the world.

However, he is actually a greedy and manipulative character, who is interested in the family’s money and valuables. He tries to win over Constance and Uncle Julian by being charming and polite, but clashes with Merricat, who sees through his act and resists his attempts to change their routine or invade their space.

He also tries to force Constance to leave the house with him, and accuses Merricat of being a thief and a lunatic. He is a villainous and violent character, who provokes Merricat’s wrath and causes the fire that destroys the house.

The novel also has some minor characters, such as:

Helen Clarke: A friend of Constance’s mother, who occasionally visits the sisters and tries to persuade Constance to leave the house or see a psychiatrist. She is a well-meaning but intrusive character, who represents the norms and expectations of society.
Jim Donell: A young man who works at the grocery store where Merricat buys food. He is friendly and flirtatious with Merricat, but also mocks her behind her back. He is a curious but superficial character, who represents the curiosity and hypocrisy of the villagers.
Mrs. Wright: An old woman who lives near the Blackwood house. She is kind and respectful to Merricat, and gives her food or gifts. She is a rare exception among the villagers, who shows some compassion and understanding for the sisters.
The villagers: The people who live in the village near the Blackwood house. They are hostile and hateful towards the sisters, whom they blame for the poisoning and ostracize from their community. They also loot and vandalize the house after the fire, showing their greed and cruelty. They are a collective character, who represents the fear and prejudice of society.

The characters in the novel undergo some development throughout the story, such as:

Merricat: She becomes more aggressive and violent towards Charles, whom she sees as a threat to her home and her sister. She also becomes more attached and dependent on Constance, whom she fears losing. She also realizes that her magic is not effective against Charles or the fire, which makes her feel powerless and vulnerable. However, she also becomes more accepting of her situation at the end of the novel, when she decides to stay in the house forever with Constance.
Constance: She becomes more assertive and independent towards Charles, whom she rejects as a potential partner. She also becomes more affectionate and protective of Merricat, whom she loves unconditionally. She also realizes that she is not guilty or responsible for the poisoning or the fire, which makes her feel relieved and free. However, she also becomes more isolated and withdrawn at the end of the novel, when she decides to stay in the house forever with Merricat.
Uncle Julian: He becomes more confused and delirious as his health deteriorates. He also becomes more aware of Merricat’s role in the poisoning, which makes him feel uneasy and suspicious. He also becomes more detached from reality at the end of his life, when he dies from the fire.
Charles: He becomes more frustrated and angry as his plans are thwarted by Merricat or Constance. He also becomes more violent and abusive towards Merricat, whom he despises and fears. He also becomes more desperate and greedy at the end of the novel, when he tries to break into the house to get the safe.

Theme and Message

The novel explores several themes and messages, such as:

Isolation: The novel shows how isolation can be both a blessing and a curse for the sisters. On one hand, isolation protects them from the hostility and judgment of the world, and allows them to create their own reality and happiness. On the other hand, isolation also traps them in a cycle of fear and guilt, and prevents them from growing or changing as individuals or as a family.
Paranoia: The novel shows how paranoia can be both a cause and a consequence of isolation. On one hand, paranoia motivates the sisters to isolate themselves from the world, as they believe that everyone is out to get them or harm them. On the other hand, paranoia also results from their isolation, as they become more suspicious and distrustful of anyone or anything that threatens their status quo.
Guilt: The novel shows how guilt can be both a source and a symptom of paranoia. On one hand, guilt drives the sisters to paranoia, as they feel responsible or blamed for the poisoning and the fire, and expect to be punished or persecuted for their crimes. On the other hand, guilt also stems from their paranoia, as they project their own feelings of remorse or regret onto others, and assume that they are hated or despised for their actions.
Family: The novel shows how family can be both a support and a burden for the sisters. On one hand, family provides them with love and loyalty, and helps them cope with their isolation and paranoia. On the other hand, family also imposes them with expectations and obligations, and exposes them to abuse and violence.
Society: The novel shows how society can be both a friend and a foe for the sisters. On one hand, society offers them opportunities and alternatives, and tries to help them overcome their isolation and paranoia. On the other hand, society also poses challenges and threats, and judges them harshly for their isolation and paranoia.
Imagination: The novel shows how imagination can be both a refuge and a prison for the sisters. On one hand, imagination enables them to escape from reality and create their own fantasy world, where they can be happy and free. On the other hand, imagination also confines them to their own delusions and illusions, where they can’t face reality or deal with their problems.

The main message of the novel is that isolation and paranoia are not healthy or sustainable ways of living, as they can lead to self-destruction or social alienation. The novel also suggests that imagination and fantasy are not enough to cope with reality, as they can distort or deny the truth.

The novel implies that the sisters need to find a balance between isolation and society, between paranoia and trust, between guilt and forgiveness, between family and self, between imagination and reality.

Writing Style

The novel is written in the first-person point of view of Merricat, who is an unreliable narrator. She often lies or omits facts, or contradicts herself or others. She also has a childish and whimsical voice, which contrasts with the dark and serious tone of the novel.

She uses simple and direct sentences, but also employs figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, symbols, allusions, irony, etc. She also uses repetition and rhyme to create rhythm and emphasis.

The novel has a Gothic style, which is characterized by elements of horror, mystery, suspense, and atmosphere. The novel creates a sense of dread and tension, as it gradually reveals the secrets and motives behind the poisoning and the sisters’ isolation.

The novel also creates a sense of claustrophobia and entrapment, as it confines the action to the house and the village, which are both isolated and hostile environments. The novel also creates a sense of contrast and irony, as it juxtaposes the normal and the abnormal, the innocent and the guilty, the past and the present, the reality and the fantasy.

The novel has a lyrical style, which is characterized by elements of beauty, emotion, and expression. The novel uses vivid and descriptive language, which appeals to the senses and evokes images and feelings.

The novel also uses poetic devices, such as rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance, etc., to create sound and music. The novel also uses symbolism and imagery, which convey deeper meanings and messages.

Pros and Cons

The novel has many pros and cons, depending on the reader’s preferences and expectations. Some of the pros are:

The novel is original and creative, as it offers a unique and unconventional perspective on Gothic fiction and psychological thriller.
The novel is engaging and compelling, as it keeps the reader interested and curious about the plot and the characters.
The novel is impactful and memorable, as it leaves a lasting impression on the reader’s mind and emotions.
The novel is insightful and meaningful, as it explores various themes and messages that are relevant and universal.

Some of the cons are:

The novel is disturbing and unsettling, as it depicts scenes of violence, horror, and cruelty that might be too graphic or upsetting for some readers.
The novel is ambiguous and confusing, as it leaves many questions unanswered or open to interpretation that might frustrate or dissatisfy some readers.
The novel is unrealistic and implausible, as it relies on coincidences, exaggerations, or contradictions that might challenge or annoy some readers.
The novel is depressing and pessimistic, as it offers no hope or resolution for the characters or the situation that might disappoint or sadden some readers.

Comparison to Other Works

The novel can be compared to other works by Shirley Jackson or other writers of horror and suspense. Some of the works that are similar to the novel are:

The Lottery: A short story by Shirley Jackson that was published in 1948. It tells the story of a small town that holds an annual ritual where one person is randomly chosen to be stoned to death by the others. It explores the themes of tradition, conformity, violence, and human nature.
The Haunting of Hill House: A novel by Shirley Jackson that was published in 1959. It tells the story of four people who stay in a haunted house for a paranormal investigation. It explores the themes of fear, madness, isolation, and identity.
Rebecca: A novel by Daphne du Maurier that was published in 1938. It tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy widower and moves to his mansion, where she is haunted by the memory and influence of his first wife, Rebecca. It explores the themes of jealousy, obsession, secrets, and identity.
The Turn of the Screw: A novella by Henry James that was published in 1898. It tells the story of a governess who takes care of two children in a remote estate, where she sees ghosts and suspects that the children are possessed by them. It explores the themes of ambiguity, innocence, evil, and madness.

Where To Read Novel

The novel is available in various formats and platforms, such as:

Print: The novel can be purchased or borrowed from bookstores or libraries in paperback or hardcover editions.
E-book: The novel can be downloaded or read online from e-book retailers or providers in various formats, such as PDF, EPUB, MOBI, etc.
Audiobook: The novel can be listened to from audiobook services or platforms in various formats, such as MP3, CD, etc.
Graphic novel: The novel can be viewed or read online from graphic novel publishers or websites in various formats, such as JPEG, PNG, etc.

Conclusion

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a novel by Shirley Jackson that is a masterpiece of Gothic fiction and psychological thriller. It tells the story of the Blackwood sisters, who live in a secluded mansion after a family tragedy that killed their parents and other relatives.

The novel is narrated by Merricat, an 18-year-old girl who has a vivid imagination and a penchant for magic and superstition. She tries to protect her home and her sister Constance from any outsiders or threats, especially from their cousin Charles, who arrives at the house with ulterior motives.

The novel creates a haunting atmosphere of dread and suspense, as it gradually reveals the secrets and motives behind the poisoning and the sisters’ isolation. It also explores the themes of isolation, paranoia, guilt, family, society, and imagination.

The novel is praised for its originality, style, and impact. It is also influenced by many other writers of horror and suspense. 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.

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