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Shirley Jackson's The Haunting Of Hill House

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Have you ever thought that your house has its own intentions that could affect your everyday life? Shirley Jackson, in her novel The Haunting of Hill House , personifies Hill House; giving it human like characteristics, which furthermore allows the reader to question the “link” between the house and Eleanor, the protagonist. In addition to the “link” between the two, Jackson makes the house feel uncanny with her details of the house and the lack of information she gives the reader, moreover, the lack of information given to the reader allows them to create their own thoughts of what is happening. This gives the reader the idea that the House itself is a main character that purposefully affects the group.

Jackson goes into the great depth about the …show more content…

Jackson then discusses about how it is impossible for any human eye to be capable of isolating the unhappiness of Hill House. Jackson also mentions how the face of Hill House seems awake, this is the reader's first time “seeing” Hill House and it seems to be more human and alive than just your typical house. Jackson also stated that, “ Exorcism cannot alter the countenance of the house”(24), exorcism is used to get rid of a dark force in someone/something, this suggest that the house itself is evil and not something in it. Hill House also has many imperfection in its structure such as corners in doorways in which are not correctly built. This makes it seem more human like to the reader due to the fact they can relate to not being perfect and having little things wrong with them; but not allowing that to change them to the reader the house is still a house just as a person who makes mistakes is still a good person. Hill House is also positioned in a remote location down in between Hills. It is not located in a city but outside of one where Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker of the home, says to the group, “No one can hear you if you scream in the

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A house cant physical cringe or quiver like said in the quote. This is proof that the author is using personification

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There are multiple times during the description of the house helps to set the eerie tone of the story. One of these is when the key won’t turn in the door and she must force the door

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