Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Haunting of Hill House



In The Haunting of Hill House, page 128-129, the Gothic concept of family is more noted in Eleanor and Theodora’s fight. The text depicts their emotional connection as that of a more realistic family.  Both of them want to make up, both of them are sorry; yet, neither releases their anger to comfort the other. The Haunting of Hill House depicts family not as the stereotypical family of that time; however, it illustrates how family members in reality interact with one another.  Neither Theodora nor Eleanor will give; yet, both want to reconcile.  It at one point it depicts both of them as wanting to ask the question, “Do you love me?”  This is a common conflict that is portrayed in many media forms as a troubled family even though it is more common place.  This question is thought of but never asked as in the ideal family a concern like this is a representation of a dysfunctional family.  Furthermore, this section demonstrates their closeness as that of a family as they are fully aware of the other, “Each knew, almost within a breath, what the other was thinking and wanting to say; each of them almost wept for the other”. Ideal families are depicted as conflict free and harmonious; however, Shirley Jackson chooses to acknowledge a true family structure one of quarrels and of a prideful nature, neither willing to give even though both want to take back their words.

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