We Have Always Lived in the Castle question

Merricat and Constance seem to function as a pair in my view. When Constance feels helpless Merricat steps up and goes to the village or enters the rest of the burned down house first after Constance couldn't bring herself to do it. I don't think Constance is afraid of Merricat. After reading earlier comments it makes more sense that indeed the dynamics in the Blackwood family have bonded Constance and Merricat. Merricat mostly wishes people dead, but only speaks of action or acts when it in some way protects Constance. The more I want to know about the backstory of the Blackwood's the more I feel like one of the peekers that Merricat and Constance want to keep out of the house. Seems a smart trap Jackson has set for the reader :) I like the interpretation of Constance having Agoraphobia and Merricat being autistic.

Shirley Jackson was a master of giving just enough information to make her readers feel creepy and _think_.
I have no criticism or comment. Madness is it's own statement.

I see it's been a while since this discussion was active. I hope it picks up again because I've just read the book for the first time and am full of questions. I'm mostly in awe of the way Jackson drops little hints and reveals, but never tells the full story of the Blackwoods' dysfunction. She leaves it up to the reader to make the connections.

Before I get to Merricat's motivations, I want to go over the details she reveals about the Blackwood family before the poisoning. There is the Rochester house in the village where their mother had been born and Merricat says "it should have belonged to Constance" but is now the home of a family of junk dealers. What happened to their mother's family? How was the house lost? Merricat also mentions that the fence around the Blackwood property was put up at her mother's insistence, as she didn't want the villagers walking by her front door -showing that the animosity against the villagers goes back at least one generation. It is also said that Mr Blackwood called the villagers "trash".

Uncle Julian is the source of most of the information about their father - giving the impression of a rigid, judgmental man who cared about money more than anything else. Did anyone else's heart twist a bit when Julian talked about how he and his wife were careful not to eat too much at meals, because his brother was supporting them? Julian mentions his wife and Mrs Blackwood quarrelling on the day of the poisoning as well. One gets the impression that the Blackwood house was always simmering with tension and barely repressed hostility. Merricat's mental dysfunction was forged in the atmosphere.

SPOILER ALERT: I'm sure I'm not the only person who realized early on that Merricat was the poisoner, and that the real mystery of the book is why she did it. I don't have an easy answer (I don't think there is one...) but some thoughts.

Merricat is 18 but emotionally she seems frozen around the age of 12, when she poisoned the entire family, apparently out of spite. It seems clear that she had been the family "bad girl" for a long time. The thing I wonder about is - was Merricat shocked into arrested development by the trauma of her impulsive action succeeding? or did her development simply stop because she'd achieved her goal of getting rid of her parents, and had no need to mature further? Her summerhouse fantasy of commanding the lost members of the family to worship her suggests that she fully understood the consequences of her actions, and would do it again if she had to.

I never got a sense of guilt from Merricat, but she does feel a sense of responsibility to protect Constance from the villagers' hostility (as Merricat is the cause of it.) Her frequent vows to be nicer to Uncle Julian hint that she feels some remorse for what happened to him. Maybe she even feels a bit of empathy for Julian since her father was (it is implied) cruel to him as well.

It is VERY interesting that Uncle Julian thinks Merricat died in the orphanage and that we don't find this out until about halfway through the book. He has been poring over the details of that night for 6 years but he can't pull it all together because he's blocked out the key person and doesn't realize it.

And the biggest question - why did Merricat leave Constance alive out of all the family? She deliberately chose her method of killing to spare Constance. I believe her love of Constance was genuine (though also self-serving, in the way of a stunted adolescent.) There's a ten-year age difference between them and one gets the impression that Constance was the Cinderella of the family, cooking and cleaning for everyone, and taking trays of food to Merricat when she was being punished. She functioned as more of a mother figure to Merricat that their real mother.

And what about Constance's motivations? We only see her through Merricat's eyes, and we can't trust Merricat. I think it's reasonable to assume that Constance dealt with the family's dysfunction by smoothing things over and keeping the house running. Looking at it that way, it's understandable why she took the blame for the poisoning when she knew all along it was Merricat. Constance even tried to protect Merricat by cleaning out the sugar bowl. Did Constance feel responsible for not protecting Merricat better from their parents?I think she did. I've seen some people argue that Constance won't leave the house because she's afraid of Merricat, but it's more complex than that. Constance seems to be easily influenced by stronger personalities - notice how quickly she starts parroting Cousin Charles' thoughts about their life when he turns up. But when disaster strikes, Constance goes right back to being Merricat's protector. Constance blames herself for the house burning down even though Merricat started the fire. Constance apologizes to Merricat for reminding her that she killed the rest of the family.

I haven't talked much about Charles because he's the most transparent character of all. He was just after their money, and maybe Constance if he could get her. In the end he just cemented the bond between Constance and her sister.

My, I've had a lot to say about this! I hope someone else chimes in...

I first read this book when I was in the 5th grade, and immediately fell in love with it. I completely identified with Merricat for many years and then eventually, more with Constance, but they are two sides of the same person.

With every reading, I can make a case for either one of them being the poisoner. There are also many motives: it seems it was their mother's money and the father had wasted it; Julian and his wife lived off them; Constance was neglected and treated like a servant; and Merricat was punished by being ignored or going to bed without supper, for saying or doing anything regarding what was going on. Merricat seems to feel some affection towards Uncle Julian; perhaps because he doesn't recall what exactly happened (though he jokes about it), or because he portrays her father as an autocratic jerk. So in a way, if anyone was left alive, it was as well it was Uncle Julian.

The only person who "saw" Merricat was Constance and vice versa. Constance remains the provider of sustenance throughout the book, though she retains their mother's idea of horror of the villagers and depends upon Merricat's weekly brave excursions to gather needed supplies and books.

Constance is afraid to act; Merricat acts without forethought.

I have ALWAYS discerned that Cousin Charles was after the money. He is a bad seed and thought they would be easy prey. I think he triggers feelings of slight remorse in Constance, because he looks like their father; he is dominating like their father, and he orders them around like their father. Constance also feels guilty about Merricat's future although Merricat is only 18 and seems happy enough in her own world. Merricat feels this as a push to grow up and without the emotional support of Constance and with the intrusion of Cousin Charles and the outside world, she also finds it terrifying and something that must be stopped.

She knows Cousin Charles is after the money and probably having her (Merricat) committed, so she gets him to go away by various means. Only one time does she directly ask him. When he refuses she figures out that if she ruins the property and makes the money inaccessible he will leave; and that if he tests Constance's loyalty too far; Constance will remain with her sister.

I don't think she is ill so much as isolated; she poisoned them perhaps because they threatened to send her away; she did not regret this as Constance said "they deserved to die". What they actually did that made them deserving is a matter for the reader's imagination. I love Shirley Jackson!

I just re-read this book after a number of years, and watched the film on Netflix. I have to say that my initial thoughts on why the family was killed changed after reading the book a second time.

It's important to remember that Constance is presented in the novel post the murders happening -- we know she may have been in love with Jim and desired a life outside of the castle/family. I do think that Constance was in a perpetual state of being checked out, and you don't really see her true self until she has the discussion with Merricat about the poisonings. That's the true Constance coming through; otherwise Constance is wearing a pleasing mask that hides her true thoughts.

I also think that Constance suffered from agoraphobia and was very susceptible to the influence of other people.

I don't think she's afraid of Merricat, per se, but knows that Merricat must be handled a certain way because Merricat's behavior and actions have proved to be unpredictable and dangerous.

I'm also not certain Constance manipulated Merricat into acting. That would definitively saddle Constance with Merricat indefinitely. Why would Constance want this, when this would hinder her desire to be completely free of her parents? She would have unwittingly burdened herself with constant caretaking and subordination to Merricat.

As for Merricat, I initially thought she poisoned the family simply because she was angry at being sent to bed without dinner -- that this probably happened to her a lot, and she knew it would happen again and decided to get even. After reading it a second time, I felt that Merricat's act was very deliberate & calculated. I also think that part of her saved Constance because Constance was subjected to some sort of abuse by her parents, partially because Merricat needed Constance to mother and take care of her, and partially because she loved Constance (in her own distorted way). Merricat's rituals hint at something deeper being present with her, and you see what that culminated in. It could, and did, show itself again with Cousin Charles. Merricat being 18 is plausible if you take into account that there is something wrong with her and she may be stunted at age 12. She would not present as an 18 year old with normal development would.

Cousin Charles -- I think he was always an opportunist. I got the impression he had run out of money and had always come in search of money. He mistakenly thought Constance was the key to gaining control of the house and money; and did not realize that Merricat indirectly controlled everything -- and he was a direct threat to that control. I don't think he came back to save Constance, he came to save the money he knew was in the safe.

Uncle Julian -- Uncle Julian blocked out key events and people responsible for them. Whether this was deliberate or due to dementia or some other ailment is not clear. I do think that what he witnessed, and himself survived, was so shocking that he could not really allow himself to face it. I viewed his constant references to Merricat dying in an orphanage were perhaps wishes of what he felt should have been Merricat's fate. Whatever was wrong with Merricate made her unmanageable, and we don't know if this wasn't something discussed by her parents--since Julian does repeat prior conversations in the novel.

I did find the townfolk remorse laughable..their underlying resentment and rage breaks through and they mob attack and then feel remorse. You take things too far, and realize you've caused irreparable harm so hey, let me drop off food.

I got the feeling that Merricat and Constance do love each other and they do what they do, whether good or bad, for each other.

I too was dying to know more about Merricat's reasoning for killing the rest of her family - it was one of the aspects that kept me reading until the end. I always hoped that she might give more information. To me, it felt that Constance was afraid of Merricat since she kept telling her how 'silly' she was, constantly treating her like a child, and she seemed afraid to mention the fact that Merricat had done the murdering towards the end of the book. However, I love your theory that Constance was treated like a maid by her family - I had not noticed that before and it brings a new layer to her character.

I wondered whether I had read Merricat's age right too - she didn't seem 18 at all. Also, we later learnt that she never brushed her hair which gave her this feral appearance in my mind that I didn't have before. I started to realise why people in the village taunted her and thought that she was strange - because she looked it.

I think that cousin Charles was planning to marry Constance but there appeared to be no relationship between then. Or maybe Merricat just never mentioned a relationship between them because she didn't want there to be one there in the same way that if she didn't think of her safe words then bad things wouldn't happen?

She is such a fascinating, absorbing character. I read in the back of the book that she is often compared to characters like Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird for her tomboy-like attitude, but I couldn't think that they are more different. Perhaps Merricat is what Scout would become without Atticus/a father figure?

I believe Uncle Julian had dementia. Whether that was coming in before or after the poisoning was unclear. But he clearly had the signs - asking for his breakfast again, where his papers were, who someone was, thinking Merricat was dead.

As I let this book sink in more, I believe Merricat was a very disturbed young woman who found comfort in manipulating her family. Specifically Constance who is a people pleaser. I noticed that no matter how often Uncle Julian called her she always responded with a patient, "Yes, Uncle Julian?" Same for Merricat. It was as if she did not want to upset anyone who cause any more trouble for her family. Again, whether she was this way before the poisoning is unclear. I don't know Merricat's motive and I think Jackson did that intentionally. You can figure out her motive based on the context of the story. My theory is Merricat has some sort of severe mental illness that was viewed by her family as being a trouble maker. I think the poisoning was her way of getting Constance all herself - notice she knew Constance did not use sugar, but everyone else did. I don't believe Uncle Jullian surviving was in her plans. Further, when Charles shows up she keeps wishing he were dead - another sign of Merricat's obsession with Constance. And taking her to her hiding place and telling her over and over that they will be so happy.

The dynamic between the sisters was intense. Constance appears to be a sweet, mother figure to Merricat, but I don't believe she had a choice. You see her begin to break down a little, but she retreats, trying to keep order as much as possible. Instead of abandoning the burned house, she scrubs it, cleans the dishes, and continues her domestic life. Constance may have been a symbol of domesticity, but that is the English major in me. ;-)

As for Merricat, again, I believe she had a severe mental illness. I'd like to research what that could be....

I did not gather that Charles wanted to marry Constance. I felt like he showed up to save her maybe? And once he found out that Merricat was hiding money and there was money available for Constance to leave, I think that is what set him off. But then when the house burned he was saying to "save the money." I had a feeling he was trying to rescue Constance. Perhaps he knew who really did the poisoning? Perhaps that explains why Constance "took" the blame for Merricat - why upset a Merricat who was already ill as it was.

Constance was definitely trying to appear and be stable to hold everything together - even the house itself even after it burned down - that she would sacrifice her happiness and freedom to keep that stability.

I love Jackson's complex characters. She's a magical author.

Amanda wrote: "As for Merricat, again, I believe she had a severe mental illness. I'd like to research what that could be...."

It seemed to me that she was a sociopath and borderline autistic. She hated for anyone (but very occasionally Constance) to touch her, she couldn't relate socially to anyone, she had OCD-like routine and was extremely upset of the routine was disturbed in any way, she had zero empathy for anyone, and zero remorse, she lived very much in a world of her own imagination.

All the little rules like for instance that she is not allowed to touch Uncle Julien's things or go into his room, were rules she made for herself. This becomes very clear at the end when Constance tells her to sleep in Uncle Julien's old room and wear some of his clothes, and Merricat continues to insist that she is not allowed. At the very end when describing their isolation, she also mentions that she is not allowed to go to the creek any more, another self-imposed rule. So it does seem to me that all those little rules and rituals were self-imposed.

Her relationship with Constance was of a demanding and selfish child to a loving and long-suffering mother. Even the morning after the house was burned and destroyed, the first thing she asked of Constance was breakfast (adding that she didn't have any supper the night before).

Oh I do believe she loved Constance in her own way, and she was excessively protective of Constance too. The agoraphobia that Constance suffered also made it easy for Merricat to keep Constance for herself, as she clearly wanted.

I think the argument between her parents that Uncle Julien alludes to, was about Merricat and probably sending her away. It also seems that being send to bed without dinner was a regular punishment and that Constance was the only who truly cared for and loved Merricat.

Are we sure Merricat didn’t die in the orphanage and that the Merricat narrating the story isn’t a second identity that Constance took on? Does anyone other than Constance ever address Merricat directly by name? The villagers don’t ever say her name, iirc. I don’t remember Uncle Julian ever addressing her by name. Did Charles?

I also thought it was clear that Charles was after their money. He was helping himself to their father’s clothes, watch, etc. I got the impression he was interested in marrying Constance in order to get control of the money.

I think Merricat is close to her sister but is a sociopath - she wasn't disturbed Julian was dying and didn't mourn him. I don't think she can feel real emotion but likes that her sister takes care of her and is an easily led companion

Or.... what if Connie was fully aware of her sister's mental distress and impulsiveness and "lovingly" manupilated Merricat by teaching her all about poisons with the hope or intention that she would kill everyone off and they would live peacefully without the other members. Maybe, she didn't think Merricat would actually ever do it, But when it happened , she was overcome with guilt and submitted herself to taking care of the final family members and keeping the house OCD clean like her mother liked. IDK. I like all of these interpretations. Normality means something different to everyone. Crazy yet comfy Dynamics. Jackson was also a bit of a recluse, I've read, and was perfectly happy that way. Connie was so close to breaking out, though. Meh. She's probably better off staying in, as sensitive as she is. It can get ugly on the outside.

I can't believe that I'm the first person to suggest / realize this - from what I saw in the movie, and from what I read in the book, it was clear to me that the father was molesting the elder daughter and that Merricat was saving her sister from it. I'd even go so far to think that he may have been molesting both of them.

Merricat has a lot of OCD behaviors, ( like her mother before her). Her mother's OCD was the one most people are familiar with - spotless house, and fear of contamination (hence the fence to keep the villagers out), but Merricat's is different. It shows up in superstitions, burying talismans, and creating magic words to hold things back.
To me Constance was in a horrible position of being the person who their mother's OCD rituals manifested through. Constance had to clean and cook, and scrub and "get rid of rats" all on her own because her mother's fear of contamination prevented her from doing it. It must have been exhausting being the instrument of someone else's intrusive thoughts.
While Merricat also suffers from OCD ( and possibly ASD - she refuses eye contact, dislikes having her hair combed and being washed regularly, she identifies with animals better than people and seems to be emotionally delayed and have the behavior of a much younger child) she at least doesn't require Constance to be a part of her OCD rituals. She grabs the watch on her own, and nails it to a tree. She buries, digs up and reburies her jar of silver dollars all on her own. She allowed Constance the time and freedom her mother never did.

I think Merricat poisoned her family due to severe attachment/abandonment issues. Reflecting on the few times in the book where Merricat the "protector" was shaken or afraid, they were all centered around potential abandonment. And this feeling of being abandoned caused her to act out.

As a child, I'm sure Merricat experienced nights with no dinner frequently. She did not decide to kill her family out of spite for this particular punishment. Instead, the reason can be found in a comment made by Uncle Julien. The arguing about sending Merricat away the night of the poisoning is what made Marricat decide to act. Being sent away or abandoned made Merricat feel something that was different than other punishments. This idea about abandonment is also supported through Merricat's dreamlike longing for positive attention and affection of her family when she fled to the summer house. Her longing depicts an unmasked dark and cruel child that sought belonging and was met with abandonment. Thus, she acted destructively.

In her relationship with Constance one can observe Merricat's struggle with control and abandonment the moment Constance's attitude changes towards the outside world. Arguably, the villagers have been rude and terrible to the Blackwoods ever since the poisoning. However, Merricat only begins to perceive a real threat/danger once Constance's behavior begins to change.
I believe Merricat began to notice "omens" in response to her growing fear that Constance would abandon her. This fear and emotionality further rises upon cousin Charles' arrival. Merricat continues to view this development as a bad omen comparing him to a demon and ghost. This is Merricat projecting her fears. ((As an aside, Charles does also suck. However, the danger is made worse by Merricat's actions and the tumultuous exchanges throughout the house.))

After Charles refused to leave when asked, Merricat took matters into her own hands-- much like the poisoning of her family. Through a series of decisions, she lit their house on fire. The fire led to the destruction of half of the house, villagers vandalizing their house, and the overwhelming fear that Constance and Merricat both experienced. But... it also led to the end of Charles and Constance's relationship, which meant no more threat of abandonment for Merricat.

Part of developing abandonment and attachment issues happens early on as an effect of negligent parenting. Someone said that Merricant and Constance are two halfs of a whole character and I think that is especially true for their attachment styles. They both experience signs of unhealthy attachment and they could not have these developmental problems without the impact of their parents and their environment. Merricat is definitely a dark and emotional character and Constance is definitely an unwaveringly loyal and easily manipulated character. Together they represent two types of exaggerated attachment styles.