we have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson

Given the nature of family structure and power, it is not surprising that Merricat wanted to rid herself of the oppressive traditions that her family held. Therefore, there is a history of blatant oppression of females within the family context (Chae 262). Daughters, however, we’re expected to follow family rules until they get married, when they had to come under their husbands’ rule. For instance, the family name is generally passed down from fathers to sons who also have traditionally inherited the majority of the property. Social rules and gender roles that exist within the family context are predominantly male-centered, which means that the power is usually patrilineal. To get a deeper understanding of why Merricat had a chaotic and illogical attitude toward family life, the history and structure of the family as an institution should be considered. Constance was the only family member whom Merricat truly loved, and despite her sinister actions, the author gave explanations for it by pointing out the oppressive nature of family relationships with regard to women.

It is revealed that Merricat was the one to murdered her family, including parents, her aunt, and her brother, leaving only Constance and her uncle, who survived the poisoning of arsenic due to mere luck. Thus, the topic of family is persistent throughout the novel, especially given the consequences that led to the death of almost all Blackwoods. The main mystery behind the two sisters was that they were the remaining members of a large old family that died suddenly from poisoning.

As mentioned by Bartnett for the Guardian, the female characters of the novel are “yin and yang of Shirley’s own inner self – one, an explorer, a challenger, the other a contented, domestic homebody.” The novel tells the story of two sisters – Merricat Blackwood, who is characterized as headstrong and naïve, and her older sister Constance Blackwood, who avoids venturing any further than her garden. We Have Always Lived in the Castle, written by Shirley Jackson and published in 1961, was the final novel of the author, representing several characteristics of her personality.

We have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson