The Haunting of Hill House: A Breakdown in Real-Time

In Shirley Jackson's seminal The Haunting of Hill House three individuals are gathered at the request of a supernatural researcher to see if they can document paranormal activity at the infamous Hill House. But is it really that simple? The point of view we as the reader inhabit, is the crumbling mindscape of Eleanor Vance, who is selected by researcher Dr. Montague because of the poltergeist activity of raining stones that happened after the death of her father when she was twelve. Whatever instability triggered the event has only worsened in Eleanor as even before setting foot in Hill House her thoughts are disconcertingly childish and fixated on fairytale fantasies. She is a woman ruled by unfillment and guilt and increasingly close to the edge of what could be called saneness. This adds up to my core question when reading the book. Is Hill House actually haunted or is it simply haunted by Eleanor Vance? This has been the question that has launched numerous academic papers and discussion and reinforces how well Jackson's novel has held up that we are still dissecting it. 

Penguin's 2016 edition

My personal view is that it's a little of both. The house in its off kilter construction and off putting internal atmosphere is a perfect conduit for Eleanor's possible latent abilities and definite unguarded mental frailty. Add to that Hill House's prowling invisible entity and you have a recipe for imminent disaster. In many ways Eleanor reminded me of a more frail Carrie White from Carrie by Stephen King. Both ruled by domineering mothers, both denied the chance at healthy growth and relationships but what separates Eleanor is that she is so beaten down by her life and family that is she is no longer truly cognizant of her ability to be an individual. Her first autonomous choice is to go to Hill House but she frames it in her mind as almost a fairytale journey and strangely her great wish is to be where no one can find her. For someone who so desperately craves to be wanted it's an interesting duality that she also wants to be separate from people. Her duality in many ways reflects the duality of Hill House and as the novel progresses you begin to wonder if a boundary between them actually exists. Needless to say The Haunting of Hill House deserves the praise it's gathered over the years and is a heartbreaking exploration of a damaged psyche haunted by forces real and imagined.