posted on 28 Jul 2021

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

I think it’s fair to say that Shirley Jackson’s literary reputation has never been higher than it is at the moment – and the upward curve shows no sign of moderating. It’s now almost obligatory to start any article about her with some kind of statement about her status as one of the greatest novelists or short story writers in the ‘supernatural’ (or even sometimes the ‘horror’) genre. Much of that reputation has been built in the first instance on her seminal The Haunting of Hill House which she published in 1959 and which spawned movie and television adaptations. As more of her work has become popular with a wider readership, it’s become clear that there’s a very special talent at work here.

However, it is in fact her last full novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle that often draws the most considered admiration from critics and, having just read it, I can see why. It is a truly audacious and breathtaking piece of work – a full-on Gothic experience without even the slightest hint of the supernatural about it.

The story is told to us by the deeply disturbed and disturbing eighteen year old, Mary Katherine Blackwood, who goes by the pet name of Merricat. She and her older and more ethereal sister Constance live with their ailing and disabled Uncle Julian in a large house, isolated physically and socially from the neighbouring small town. We discover from the beginning that the townspeople view Merricat and her family with suspicion and a degree of fascinated horror because of events that happened six years earlier when the rest of the family were killed by poison added to the sugar bowl – Uncle Julian’s illnesses and deteriorating mental state were also the result of this poisoning. Circumstantial evidence pointed to Constance as the poisoner but the lack of evidence led to her acquittal – although everyone still believes her to be the culprit.

What remains of the family now lives a secluded and ritualistic life, separated from the rest of society with the exception of one or two visitors who try and keep contact going. Merricat’s constant companion is her cat – almost you suspect her ‘familiar’ – and it’s also the 18 year old whose behaviour is so ritualistic it verges on obsessive compulsive behaviour.

And then, one day, an estranged cousin, Charles, shows up and seeks to ingratiate himself into the household – ultimately with the aim of getting his hands on any money that might be in the family safe. Although Connie is open to his influence, Merricat resists and seeks through her rituals to drive him away. Ultimately another tragedy is just around the corner in the shape of a fire that guts the upper part of the house, leaving it with a silhouette that resembles a crenulated castle.

The drama of the fire is too much for Uncle Julian who dies before he can witness the sight of the townspeople at first trying to help put the fire out and then turning their latent anger towards the Blackwoods into wanton destruction and vandalism.

Merricat and Constance hide throughout this whole event and as they talk we discover just how the arsenic poisonings happened – but I’m not revealing that here because I’m sure you wouldn’t thank me.

Ultimately the two young women send the reptilian Charles packing for good and resolve to continue living together, in isolation from everyone else, in the house they have always lived in. Their hostile neighbours, abashed by their behaviour, start to leave food for them on their doorstep.

I now have a new favourite book of 2021 and I thought it was a sensational piece of writing. Jackson's mastery of the story is total and her writing style is immersive and immediate - quite how she creates the claustrophobic intensity so redolent of impending doom is something to sit back and admire.

I recently purchased a two volume complete works containing all of Jacksons novels and short stories and I’m going eke them out and truly relish reading them.

 

Terry Potter

June 2021