Blog #2: The Haunting of Hill House

At the time The Haunting of Hill House was written, there was a common belief that a strong family and home environment would allow a functioning society. Thus the book highlights the cascade of tragic events that accompany the life of an individual from a broken home in order to chronicle the affects of such a home. The theme of family importance is apparent as Eleanor begins her psychological downfall into insanity.  It can be assumed that Eleanor is the only one to be altered by the house because she is from a broken family and thus lacked the traits to allow her to remain sane during the supernatural occurrences. The doctor stated “ the only damage is done by the victim to himself” (102). Meaning a supernatural force is not at the root of Eleanor’s insanity but rather her inherent identity causes her to go mad. As the story progresses Eleanor begins to question her own sanity, “… there was again the little babbling murmur which Eleanor remembered; Am I doing it? She wondered quickly, is that me? And heard the tiny laughter beyond the door, mocking her.” (149). It can be thought that if Eleanor had come from a healthy household, like Theodora, she would be able to distinguish her own thoughts from the surroundings and remain psychologically sound while enduring the events in the house. Eleanor’s past dictates her ability to cope with events in her life. Jackson uses the extreme example of a haunted house to shown the weakness of individuals that come from a disjointed home in order to support the idea of strong family values as the root of a functioning society.