Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle relates the narrative of two sisters, Merricat and Constance Blackwood, and their existence in isolation following a catastrophe that decimated their family. The tale takes place in a tiny village where the Blackwood family’s once-grand home is now regarded with mistrust and terror by the townspeople. Merricat’s perspective transports us to a dark, unnerving world where the borders between truth and hallucination are blurred.

The Blackwood Family

The Blackwoods were formerly affluent and well-known, residing in a huge, elegant mansion. However, the family split apart following an incident that left just Merricat, her older sister Constance, and their Uncle Julian alive. Their parents, along with the rest of the family, were poisoned, making the sisters outcasts in their community.

The townspeople never forgave them for the family’s deaths, believing Constance poisoned everyone, despite the fact that she was exonerated of all charges. Since that day, the sisters have been cut off from the outside world, living in a dilapidated home on a hill surrounded by gossip and mistrust.

Merricat, the younger of the two sisters, narrates the narrative. She is extremely protective of her elder sister, Constance, whom she admires and respects. Merricat frequently participates in rituals and bizarre behaviors to ensure the safety and privacy of their house, such as burying goods and casting protective charms.

Constance, on the other side, is more delicate and caring. She has become a reclusive character, focused solely on Merricat and their house.

The Ruined House

The Blackwood family mansion, once big and vibrant, is now a deteriorating, overgrown structure. The roof has been torched, the walls are crumbling away, and the windows have been boarded up. Despite its decay, the mansion continues to serve as a symbol of the Blackwood sisters’ seclusion, as well as a refuge from the locals’ judgment and animosity.

The home becomes a character in the narrative, embodying both the Blackwoods’ history and their isolation from the outside world.

The home is also where Constance and Merricat dwell in their bizarre but consistent routine. They have their own little rituals that are essential to their existence and sense of power.

Constance performs the most of the housekeeping and cooking, while Merricat relies on her strange, mystical rituals to keep them safe. Despite being stuck in their own tiny universe, they have managed to maintain a feeling of normalcy in the middle of the insanity.

The Return of Charles

Constance and Merricat’s tranquility in seclusion is broken when their cousin, Charles Blackwood, arrives at the home. Charles is the first outsider to enter their sequestered world, and his presence brings both hope and turmoil. Merricat is very suspicious of Charles, believing that he is just interested in the family riches and would stop at nothing to obtain it.

She feels Charles is attempting to exploit Constance and take advantage of her compassion. Charles’ reasons are unknown, but he is desperate to become closer to Constance and acquire access to the family’s hidden money, which the sisters have kept hidden throughout the years.

Charles’ presence in the family causes conflict between the sisters. Constance, who has not spoken to anybody outside the home in years, is captivated by Charles and his attentiveness. She is flattered and starts to consider him as a prospective friend, someone who can help her get out of her solitary life.

Merricat, on the other hand, is passionately protective of both her house and her sister. She feels frightened by Charles and starts acting out in more aggressive and unpredictable ways. Her protective rituals get more intense as she attempts to push him away, worried that he would ruin all they’ve fought so hard to safeguard.

The Past and Family Secrets

As the narrative proceeds, we discover more about the tragedy that caused the Blackwoods’ solitude. Merricat, who was a youngster when the killings occurred, has disjointed recollections of that night. Through her unreliable narration, we gradually piece together the circumstances that led to the deaths of the rest of the family.

John, the sisters’ father, was nasty and greedy, mistreating Constance and Merricat. It is revealed that Constance was implicated for the killings, although she was eventually acquitted. The poison that murdered their family was traced back to arsenic, which Constance was accused of placing in the sugar bowl, however no proof exists to support this claim.

Despite her emotions of remorse and confusion, Merricat protects her sister. She feels Constance is innocent and that the villagers’ hate toward her is unjustified. The tragedy of losing their family and the stigma attached to Constance has impacted both sisters, particularly Merricat, who has created a wall around herself and her sister to keep them safe from the outer world.

Merricat also starts to divulge more about her magical beliefs and rituals, which are part of her attempt to control the world around her. She feels that by adhering to these traditions, she may safeguard her sister and the home.

These rituals include burying artifacts in the yard and creating protective symbols. Merricat’s acts may appear odd and insane, but they are a reflection of the trauma she has endured and her need to feel safe in a world hostile to her and her sister.

Charles’ Departure

Charles’ tenure in the Blackwood residence is brief. Despite his attempts to seduce Constance and get her to open up to him, Merricat’s reluctance and increasingly aggressive behavior drive him to flee. Charles’ final meeting with the sisters is marked by a mix of regret, hatred, and relief.

Charles tries to reason with Constance, but she no longer wants his attention. Merricat, in her usual style, performs odd, protective rituals to push him away. Charles leaves, and the sisters are once again left alone in their home.

Charles’ departure ends any possibility of the Blackwoods rejoining society. The sisters return to their isolated world, free to live by their own rules. They no longer have to be concerned about the judgment or interference of others because they have effectively pushed Charles away.

However, persistent seclusion causes additional degeneration, both psychologically and physically. Merricat’s conduct gets increasingly chaotic, and Constance’s separation from reality grows. The sisters have lost touch with reality and are living in a dream world of their own fabrication.

The End of the Novel

The story ends with a sad and bizarre depiction of the sisters’ lives among the rubble of their house. Merricat, still immersed in her magical thinking, believes that she and Constance will dwell in their house indefinitely, unaffected by the outside world. However, the tale concludes on a shaky note, with the sisters’ future left undetermined. Will they continue to live in solitude, or will they have to face the repercussions of their actions?

The novel’s last sections depict the Blackwoods’ full isolation from society. The sisters have become legends in town, representing mystery and horror. The townspeople are both captivated and repulsed by them, and their once-beautiful mansion has become a symbol of decadence and devastation. Merricat and Constance have built their own universe, free of the harsh facts of reality. However, while this environment is pleasant, it is also a prison from which no one can escape.