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.

01:15:38

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Quick takeaways

Ruth Franklin highlights how Shirley Jackson's dual life as a writer and housewife influenced her psychological and gothic narrative themes.

The dynamic between Mary Katherine and Constance Blackwood in 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' serves to illustrate complex familial relationships amidst societal rejection.

Jackson's use of witchcraft as a metaphor reflects the struggle for female empowerment in a patriarchal society, resonating deeply in her works.

Deep dives

Shirley Jackson's Life and Influence

Shirley Jackson, a key figure in American literature, is explored through her dual existence as a writer and a housewife. Her everyday life in North Bennington, Vermont, shaped her psychological and gothic narratives, reflecting both ordinary domesticity and underlying horror. Notably, her works often delve into the complexities of women's experiences, revealing the tensions between societal expectations and personal agency. Her biography and the perceptions of her life illustrate how her domestic life influenced her literary themes, often blurring the lines between her reality and fiction.

Intro

2min

Unveiling Shirley Jackson's Castle

10min

Empowerment and Tensions in North Bennington

18min

Exploring Domestic Life Through Psychological Suspense

6min

Contrasting Lives: Mericat and Constance

19min

The Heart of the Home: Cooking and Creativity

3min

The Sinister Inheritance: A Cousin's Arrival

2min

Echoes of Isolation and Chaos

14min

Echoes of Shirley Jackson's Legacy

5min

Shirley Jackson in North Bennington, Vermont. Award-winning biographer Ruth Franklin visits the small village of North Bennington, where Jackson lived for twenty years. We stand in the square where Jackson imagined 'The Lottery' and conjure the ghost of Merricat Blackwood as she collects her sinister groceries in Jackson’s last and greatest novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (Penguin Modern Classics edition)

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/133431/we-have-always-lived-in-the-castle-by-jackson-shirley/9780141191454

Blackstone Publishing audiobook edition of We Have Always Lived in the Castle, read by Bernadette Dunne

https://www.blackstonelibrary.com/we-have-always-lived-in-the-castle?sp=15364

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson (Penguin Modern Classics edition)

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/133428/the-lottery-and-other-stories-by-jackson-shirley/9780141191430

Penguin Audio edition of The Lottery and Other Stories, read by Francine Brody

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/133428/the-lottery-and-other-stories-by-jackson-shirley/9780141994871

Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson (Penguin Modern Classics edition)

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/312885/life-among-the-savages-by-jackson-shirley/9780241387801

Penguin Audio edition of Life Among the Savages, read by Kate Handford

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/312885/life-among-the-savages-by-jackson-shirley/9780141994901