We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

 

Summary (from the publisher): Merricat Blackwood lives on her family's estate with her sister Constance and uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until Cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.

Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is perhaps the crowning achievement of Shirley Jackson’s brilliant career: a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the dramatic struggle that ensues when an unexpected visitor interrupts their unusual way of life.

Review: Mary Katherine or Merricat Blackwood lives on her family's estate with her sister Constance and her uncle Julian. The family was originally much larger until the rest were killed by arsenic poisoning. Constance was tried and acquitted of the murders but remains isolated at home to avoid the prying eyes of the curious villagers. Merricat spends her time burying tokens and charms to protect her remaining family until one day their cousin Charles appears and interrupts the delicate balance the remaining household has reached. 

This was an unsettling novel about an isolated family with a dark and perverse history. From the outset the reader sees clearly what all the villagers also know - one of the girls had to have been the one who intentionally put poison in the family sugar bowl to murder their parents, aunt and uncle, and brother. From early on, heavy clues are dropped leading the reader to believe it was Merricat: "I was not allowed to prepare food, nor was I allowed to gather mushrooms, although I sometimes carried vegetables in from the garden, or apples from the old trees" (439). Only uncle Julian survived but is forever altered: he is a cripple after the incident with poor memory and limited physical function. Perhaps even worse, he is cyclically stuck on the day of the murders and spends his time discussing it and analyzing every detail of that fateful day. The family is trapped in a sort of limbo world. They ignore the outside, they make no plans for the future, they merely exist, circling endlessly around the events of the great tragedy. 

Perhaps even darker is the reason behind the poison, which is only hinted at. Clearly something dark and unhappy was going on in the family to lead to such a response. Despite their reduced circumstances, the dark opinions of the villagers, and their isolation the sisters have found a happiness and tranquility that they seem to have lacked before. 

The final chapters of this book were traumatic as the sisters find their peace invaded. Without risking any spoilers, suffice it to say that this story is bizarre, disturbing, and claustrophobic. This was a chilling story, not because of anything supernatural or ghostly but because of what is left unsaid. The dark unpleasant past of the girls and the haunting acceptance of their reduced circumstances. A strange an odd tale that kept my attention and left me feeling very uneasy and somewhat horrified. 

Stars: 4

Related Title: 

• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson