tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029855538723228200.post6218297754482708900..comments2016-06-19T14:35:10.261-07:00Comments on Chris von Halle's Blog: Eleanor in Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill HouseChris Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00628682876855958199noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029855538723228200.post-39484907430846450682011-09-09T10:17:43.842-07:002011-09-09T10:17:43.842-07:00I think it's fascinating that we all seem to h...I think it's fascinating that we all seem to have slightly different interpretations of Jackson's book. Isn't it kind of frustrating that we can't just e-mail Shirley Jackson and ask her what she intended? I can't say I sympathized with Eleanor or liked her, but she was interesting, so I wanted to follow her. I did, however, think she was mentally a little off from the get-go, though who could blame her with the life she'd had. I never saw her becoming unhinged; rather, I saw her seeking and finally finding a place where she belonged.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029855538723228200.post-64868229983835893762011-09-03T16:17:40.830-07:002011-09-03T16:17:40.830-07:00Fun post, Chris. I love Eleanor's character, e...Fun post, Chris. I love Eleanor's character, especially the way she meshes with the house, its past, everything. One reason Jackson is able to pull off the unreliable narrator so well, I think, is because she spends so much time developing Eleanor, who has a wide range of thoughts and reactions right from the get go. In fact, I don't think she totally loses her mind. She fantasizes throughout the book. At the end, her "normal" state just gets exaggerated. She's still somewhat -- off an on, at least -- in touch with her "traditional" self. This is a stark contrast to HELL HOUSE, where people go absolutely loopy at the drop of a hat. Puppet time! I far prefer Jackson's approach.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09610195561053152028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029855538723228200.post-3524637477400036932011-09-02T19:45:57.528-07:002011-09-02T19:45:57.528-07:00I especially enjoyed the surprise I felt when Elea...I especially enjoyed the surprise I felt when Eleanor would get these very sudden, violent feelings toward the others. Jenn pointed it out in her entry about Eleanor wanting to throw stones at Theo (a parallel to what happened in her childhood); I also thought of how Eleanor was at war with herself, hating and loving Theo at the same time; wanting her companionship and wanting to kill her. It's hard to follow a character that switches sides all the time.Kristina Elyse Butkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16141837110828435955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029855538723228200.post-44449225105915153862011-09-02T07:52:19.193-07:002011-09-02T07:52:19.193-07:00Knowing that Eleanor is crazy and that her experie...Knowing that Eleanor is crazy and that her experience is probably not very accurate made the book that much more enjoyable for me. We never really know the truth, which in my mind is a lot more interesting than being hammered over the head with "meaning" and "intent" the way American audiences so often are these days, especially in film.Jennifer Loringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12140138618841118386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029855538723228200.post-19680364312412640432011-09-02T06:23:13.997-07:002011-09-02T06:23:13.997-07:00I'll agree. I think, as writers, we're of...I'll agree. I think, as writers, we're often told that our narrator has to be reliable, but Eleanor is the exception to the rule, and a wonderful example of how an author can pull such a character off. Nice entry. Good perspective.Scott A. Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00401840261793826042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5029855538723228200.post-1793364953109741562011-08-31T16:28:34.532-07:002011-08-31T16:28:34.532-07:00Chris,
Eleanor is a wonderful unreliable narrator...Chris,<br /><br />Eleanor is a wonderful unreliable narrator, and the subtlety Jackson uses in showing her unreliability is remarkable. I wonder, do you think a narrator like her would be tolerated by today's readers?<br /><br />(And I cheered when she stole her sister's car)Chris Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11248919336925960105noreply@blogger.com