Author: Shirley Jackson Buy the Book: Amazon | IndieBound
Overview
Published in 1962, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is Shirley Jackson’s final novel and arguably her most haunting. Set in a secluded New England village, the story follows sisters Merricat and Constance Blackwood, who live in near-total isolation after a family tragedy. Their eerie routines and psychological unraveling form a chilling portrait of trauma, secrecy, and societal rejection.
Meet the Sisters: Merricat and Constance
Merricat, the unreliable narrator, is a young woman with a childlike mind and a penchant for magical thinking. Her sister Constance, agoraphobic and nurturing, anchors the household. Their dynamic—equal parts love, fear, and denial—drives the novel’s tension. Uncle Julian, obsessed with recounting the poisoning that killed the rest of the family, adds layers of obsession and decay.
Family Secrets and Social Exile
Jackson explores how secrets fester in isolation. The Blackwood sisters are ostracized by the villagers, who chant cruel rhymes and spread rumors. The novel critiques small-town conformity and the fear of the “other,” themes that resonate with Jackson’s own experiences and broader cultural anxieties of the Cold War era.
Atmosphere and Style
Jackson’s prose is deceptively simple, laced with dark humor and surreal imagery. Her fragmented narrative mirrors Merricat’s fractured psyche. The house itself becomes a character—claustrophobic, ritualistic, and haunted by memory. The pacing is slow-burning, with dread accumulating through domestic detail and psychological nuance.
Madness and Mental Illness
Merricat’s mental state is central to the novel’s horror. Jackson never labels her condition, allowing readers to interpret her behavior through the lens of trauma, psychosis, or magical realism. The book challenges how society defines and treats mental illness, especially in women—a theme echoed in Jackson’s own life and works.
Pop Culture Legacy
The novel inspired a 2018 film adaptation starring Taissa Farmiga and Alexandra Daddario, and its influence can be felt in works like The Haunting of Hill House (also by Jackson), Hereditary, and The Babadook. Merricat’s voice has become iconic in gothic literature, and the book remains a staple in feminist horror studies.
Critiques and Analysis
Author Bio
Shirley Jackson (1916–1965) was a master of psychological horror and gothic fiction. Her works often explore themes of domestic anxiety, social alienation, and mental illness. Best known for The Lottery and The Haunting of Hill House, Jackson’s legacy continues to shape horror literature and feminist critique.
Watch: Shirley Jackson’s Legacy | The Psychology of Shirley Jackson
