Gossip says she hanged herself from the turret on the tower, but when you have a house like Hill House with a tower and a turret, gossip would hardly allow you to hang yourself anywhere else.
Shirley JacksonRead
Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the solitude and eerie atmosphere of Hill House, suggesting a deeper commentary on isolation and the human experience.
This quote from Shirley Jackson's 'The Haunting of Hill House' conveys a haunting yet peaceful image of a house that stands firm and silent, embodying a sense of isolation. The detailed description of its structure serves as a metaphor for emotional and psychological barriers, hinting at the idea that even in well-constructed environments, the feeling of being alone can persist, and whatever resides within may be lonely and restless.
Themes
IsolationSolitudeLonelinessArchitectureAtmosphere
In practice
Example use cases
As an introduction to a discussion about isolation in literature.
More from Shirley Jackson
All quotes βIt watches," he added suddenly. "The house. It watches every move you make.
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There had not been this many words sounded in our house for a long time, and it was going to take a while to clean them out.
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I can't help it when people are frightened," says Merricat. "I always want to frighten them more.
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I was pretending that I did not speak their language; on the moon we spoke a soft, liquid tongue, and sang in the starlight, looking down on the dead dried world.
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We moved together very slowly toward the house, trying to understand its ugliness and ruin and shame.
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