On the Road with Penguin Classics We Have Always Lived in the Castle with Ruth Franklin
Jan 11, 2024
Discover the haunting world of Shirley Jackson as biographer Ruth Franklin uncovers the gothic charm of North Bennington. The discussion touches on the eerie legacy of Mary Catherine Blackwood and the unique blend of reality and myth woven into Jackson's final novel. Explore the tensions surrounding women's empowerment and domestic life infused with psychological suspense. The complex relationship between Mericat and Constance highlights themes of isolation, witchcraft, and family dynamics. A vivid portrayal of creativity emerges, showcasing how Jackson's kitchen served as the heart of her literary process.
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Economy Of Strange Prose
- Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle blends whodunit and psychological horror in an economical, eerie style.
- Jackson's crisp sentences create a 'wonderment' that leaves motives ambiguous and readers unsettled.
Persona Versus Daily Life
- Ruth Franklin first encountered Jackson via "The Lottery" and notes readers expect a 'witchy' persona from her fiction.
- Jackson combined that public mystique with the ordinary life of a Vermont housewife, producing tension between image and daily reality.
Power Of The Unreliable Narrator
- Mary Catherine (Mericat) narrates in an unreliable, ambiguous voice that intensifies the novel's mystery.
- Jackson deliberately withholds explanations to make readers inhabit uncertainty rather than hand them clear answers.