Compare And Contrast Haunting Of Hill House

Both the film Sunset Boulevard and the novel Haunting of Hill House are set in a gothic context. I found similarities in the way both main characters from the novel and film, maintained relationships with others. In contrast I found that the feelings associated with the two main characters, Norma Desmond and Eleanor were presented differently. I also found the representation of the gothic in the settings of both the novel and film contradictory. It is evident that both characters Norma and Eleanor had self hatred, which made their relationships with others difficult. The novel and film exemplified the gothic trope in a similar way although the differences were represented in the setting and attributes given to each character. The first similarity

In Sunset Boulevard the main character Norma Desmond has a dark, fragmentary relationship with her house keeper and former husband, Max. Norma's relationship with Joe, her on screen lover, is quite unusual. Norma, from the viewers perspective is in love with Joe, although his feelings are contrary. He stays in the relationship solely for the payment he is promised, for helping Norma write a film. The film reaches a love triangle when Joe seemingly falls in love with Betty, who is in a relationship with Joe's good friend. Betty is described as a foil to Norma's character; the complete opposite of how Norma is portrayed. Similarly so in the Haunting of Hill House there is an un-ascribed love triangle between the main character Eleanor, Theodor and Luke. Eleanor displays a love hate relationship towards Theo throughout the novel, which could relate to a repressed sexual desire she may have for her.

Sunset Boulevard takes place in Norma's mansion. She rarely ever leaves her home which is representative of the externalization of the trapped character. Norma can be alluded to a vampire. The fact that she stays in doors, and wears sunglasses when she goes out suggests that she is sensitive to light. The metaphoric representation of the vampire also represents Norma's obsession with immorality. Norma also takes on the femme fatal role, by killing her lover due to jealousy. This trope strays away from the societal stereotype that was attributed to female characters at the time. Haunting of Hill House, on the other hand represents Eleanor's journey. Knowingly, Eleanor goes on the journey to Hill House fully aware of its paranormal attributes. Although hill house is relatively different for Eleanor. She finds security in the house and a sense of belonging, which she was longing for. Eleanor's character becomes insane the longer she stays at hill house. The Haunting of Hill House follows more of a stereotypical gothic role in describing the scenes. The house itself has been abandoned and is proclaimed haunted by the people living in a nearby town. In contrary to Sunset Boulevard the ending of hill house ends with Eleanor's suicide, as some say. It is unclear what exactly happens to her, but is believed