The Psychology of Shirley Jackson
Vložit
- čas přidán 21. 12. 2020
- In this video essay we investigate the life of Shirley Jackson and relate her life experiences to her novels and short stories.
This video has been a long time in the making. It is not meant to be an exhaustive; I haven't read all of Shirley Jackson's work. So if you have ideas to add, or criticisms, please leave a comment below.
This video will specifically focus on the novels I am most familiar with:
The Bird's Nest
The Haunting of Hill House
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Hangsaman
... and several of Jackson's short stories including:
The Witch
The Renegade
The Possibility of Evil
I have taken much of the info about Shirley Jackson's life from Ruth Franklin's biography A Rather Haunted Life. It's an excellent book and I recommend you pick it up.
I hope you enjoy!
I'm 13, and I'm reading the Haunting of Hill House, and I've got to say... It is the most beautifully written book that I have ever had the joy of reading. It truly is a work of a master. It's such a shame so died so very young.
I need to read that one! I started the day before yesterday with The Summer People- one of her short stories. Such a different, subdued sort of horror. Love it!
I've read one of her short story's in the collection of, 'Just a normal day'. It's was about a collage girl whom is signing a deal with the devil.
I'm so glad you are reading serious works this young. I guess this was a couple of years ago. I started reading this sort of thing when I was that age and lots of others, mostly sci fi and horror. Jackson is an amazing writer, you will get so much from her. Reading is the best thing for any mind but certainly young minds, keep it up!
It’s encouraging to see that young readers such as yourself exist and that you already can appreciate the beauty of the written word.
I recently read an article in The NY Times that universities are eliminating English as a major area of study due to lack of interest. The same is true of History majors. Very frightening to know areas of study such as these are falling by the wayside. It doesn’t speak well of our future as a species of thinking beings. 😢
@@KT-sq2ml Exactly!!! Thank you, couldn’t have said it any better.
Use of Hopper paintings to illustrate was inspired.
You have done a masterful job with this study of Shirley Jackson. I truly think she is one of the greatest American writers . I have read everything she ever wrote and I was horrified to find out a few years ago just how abominably her husband treated her. Thanks for great work. Cheers
“We Always Lived in the Castle” was required reading in a high school English class. I remember I really liked it-plus the idea of our teacher wanting to challenge us with the more complex tale
We read the Lottery in high school English. I read We have Always Lived in Castle on my own because I liked The Lottery.
Bro. I never comment on any youtube videos, but this was straight up so amazingly presented and well researched that I was strongly compelled to do so. You've made me super excited to write about Shirley Jackson during my yr 12 studies. Absolute legend.
The Lottery was a good read. It had that shock value ending, which made it more memorable. It reminded me, somewhat, of a Ray Bradburry type story.The Hill House novel was also a great read. I do believe, that the eccentricities and emotional status of many famous writers and artist, bring out their most creative selves, and great works. Sad Shirley died too soon and carried a lot of sadness in her heart, thanks to her cold hearted parents. Especially her, self centered mother. RIP Shirley. 😌🙏🙏💐
And her husband. He was 💩
So Good! The choice of artwork is amazing and research of the Shirley Jackson is detailed. Well written and performed. You have the ingredients for success. Can’t wait to see more of your video essay’s.
Thank you so much! This was a tough video to make because of all the research and reading needed. So i'm really glad you like it :)
I love Edward Hopper especially!
Thank you so much for this documentary. I came across "We have always lived in a castle" by chance and didn't stop until I had read all her work. I personally think that she deserves a posthumous Nobel Prize for Literature, fact that will never happen, but it happens in my imagination. It happens in my imagination. I loathe all the movie version of "The haunting of Hill House" or any of her stories, they just don't understand Shirley. I think that her personal drama should be more known by the general public because it still happens, with feminism and all. She's immense. Oh! And my fav short story is also "The witch".
Feminism exists because women are 2nd class citizens, even though we’re half of the human population, because we don’t as a society value and respect each other as basic common sense. Tacitly accepting poor behavior stemming from a misplaced desire for control, superiority, dominance, etc…will not and never will give anyone the keys to the “King Daddy”. All that energy, time, focus funneled into the brass ring you can never get while you could just as easily realize it’s silly and destructive. I mean, subjugating women has gotten us nothing, the point of quality living is not stomping on the assets around you. It does not solve for X.
I'm anxious to read her biography and this video made me more excited about this book.
I've read so far "we have always lived in the castle", "the hunt of the hill house", "sundial" and "hangsaman" - so crazy.
Also, I really like the images chosen to ilustrate this and the other video (I mean, the one about "we have always lived innl the castle").
Great video! 👍 The Münchner Kammerspiele are excited to bring Shirley Jackson's work to life on our stage in Munich! 🎭 We deeply admire Jackson's craft and are honored to present her groundbreaking storytelling for the first time in the German-speaking region. If you're in or near Munich: join us for a riveting premiere of "Die Möglichkeit des Bösen" by Marie Schleef as we delve into the eerie world she masterfully created!
Thank you for an enjoyable, insightful, and stimulating discussion of Jackson's work and psyche. With my 7th and 8th-graders, we read "The Possibility of Evil." I'll be sharing your segment on this story, along with news stories about anonymous letters. I see, now, that the reason I had been, as a teen, so enthralled with WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVIED IN THE CASTLE, was that SJ and I had similar mothers. I understand why SJ held back her assertive letters of confrontation: her injured self-esteem led her to think she was not worthy of soliciting more respect. Sad.
When I was14 years old, I was sitting in my “honors English class.”
My instructor was very pregnant. I was not paying attention to the rest of the class, as usual. Our teacher had left the class for a moment or so. When she came back to class, many of my classmates threw balled up pieces of notebook paper at her. She was extremely upset and left the classroom again. Guess what short story we had just read. Guess how I feel about the average slob in high school? This happened in 1976 in Greensboro NC at Northwest High School. This class was considered gifted. Let that sink in...
Re-The Haunting of Hill House… Wonderful, intriguing book. Many believe it to be a ghost story, but it is not. It is rather a story about a young woman losing her mind. Many would disagree, particularly as the 1963 film version is indeed an iconic ghost story. The main clue however is to be found in the bit about the house being built a degree or two out of square and that everything is a question of balance. Not forgetting of course the opening quote… 'No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality.' Highly recommended.
I have had a great respect for Shirley Jackson's writing for decades, and your brilliant presentation and analysis of her work and life has increased the esteem in which I hold her.
Incredibly quality stuff! I can’t believe more people aren’t watching this. Well done
So far I'm about 18 min through and really enjoying this! You've many good insights into the personality of Shirley Jackson BUT I must differ re. "passive" people: so-called "passivity" isn't always what it appears to be. What appears to be passive behavior can be surface-only but actually hiding other aspects of behavior/personality. In other words, a coping mechanism because we all must live in this world. Perhaps "still waters run deep" a better description. Or as my 8th-grade history teacher used to say: "Watch out for the quiet ones!"
If you annoyed her, she could just describe & then kill you in her fiction. Perfect outlet! 😠
Lovely coverage of her life and work. Such a sensitive and resilient person like so many of the women haunting her pages. Such unlovely parents! Grateful for her courage and what she inscribed on the page to entertain and console the rest of us! The mid century artwork to frame her social and economic environment here is stunning.
An excellent video essay that encouraged me to pick Shirley's biography and to try and dig in a little bit more in her works, though I am not personally fond of the genre. Thanks alot for your efforts.
Thanks :) I was worried about this video because I felt the quality wasnt up to my usual standard, so I really appreciate the comment.
Thank you for making this video. I was quite disappointed when I read haunting of hill house because I was expecting a proper ghost story. This video helped me to appreciate the book for its other aspects.
Informative, thoughtful, respectful… and great taste in topics! Enjoying your channel and this video in particular 👍
I've recently become interested in Jackson's writing and found your essay very insightful. Thank you!
Excellent essay. I'm fascinated by Shirley Jackson's work.
Well DONE! This is a fantastic short documentary. I learned a lot and found it very entertaining and informative.
Your video is very helpful, respectful---and I truly enjoyed not only hearing the biographical points, as well as the psychological ruminations---but the fantastic artwork you found! Well done and many thanks.
Thanks! Glad you found it respectful. I was quite worried about this video because it deals with so many of the difficulties in Jackson's life, and I didnt want to sound judgemental of her, or her decisions.
Thanks for watching :)
Thank you so very much for including the striking art work, especially that of Edward Hopper; the quality of it is amazing. I have only listened to about 13 minutes at this point; you are quite perceptive, and I appreciate the research you have done. When I saw the first Edward Hopper, I had to scroll through to see more.
Thank you! I think Hopper's art goes very well with the themes of Jackson's writing.
@@TheEldritchArchives It does; it was an excellent choice. Thank you for all of the energy, time, and effort you put into your videos.
Thank you for this review. I liked how your organized it by theme. Jackson’s writing has been a life-long love, since I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle over 40 years ago. A few random thoughts:
Two other stories that might fit into the Imp of the Perverse category are Charles and An Ordinary Day with Peanuts. They are also both pretty funny.
One of her most haunting stories is The Daemon Lover. Its thread if evil is so fine as to be almost invisible yet it knits the story together.
When The New Yorker published The Lottery the public was so baffled, distressed and outraged that the magazine received more letters about that one story than it had received to date about any other.
In one of her books-possibly Life Among The Savages-Shirley describes how the idea came to her for The Lottery as she struggled home on foot, carrying shopping bags and towing (a number of) children uphill. That image always stuck with me, especially when I’m lazy about being creative.
I was disgusted by the recent movie of We Have Always…it was awful! The depiction of Constance could not have been worse. Shirley wrote superbly and her characters are crystal clear. To get them that wrong is a crime!
Refer more to my favourite: "The Possibility of Evil" . Loved your work. It was SUPERB.
Sir, you are mistaken on one small point. In the 1950s, women's roles were being pushed *from* the public arena and *back into* the home very abruptly.
There was an anxious post WWII backlash among the men who came home from war and found the downside of needing Rosie the Riveter behind them, running the factories and farms and home war effort: their mothers, sisters, sweethearts/wives had proved themselves to be fairly ordinary competent human beings when they were needed in the workforce and public life,
And many of these women had realized how much confidence, happiness and autonomy came along with a personal income and employment outside the home.
This was most obvious among the Middle class, as poor and lower working class women had often worked out of necessity.
In the comics of the 40s, Louise Lane was a competent, intelligent, brave, hardheaded reporter.
In the comics of the 50s, she needed constant rescue because she wouldn't stay at the office, and spent a lot of her time frantically trying to get an often arrogant and condescending Superman to marry her-- and failing.
During the 40s, Lucille Ball was not only a glamorous dish, but also a sharp, ferocious wit. She famously out-ad-libbed the ever ad libbing Lou Costello on the Abbot and Costello radio show...he finally responded, "Read what's on the sheet!"
In the 50s, both on radio and on tv, she played a rather hair-brained wife to a long suffering husband.
Compare the advertisements of the 40s to the 50s.
The 50s was not a time of women advancing into public life, so much as it was a time of men trying to gatekeep women out of it.
Thanks for sharing that info! The historical context of the 1950's definitely isnt my strongest area. I appreciate you correcting and explaining the 1950's context :) I havent come across anyone explaining the backlash towards women working in the 50's before.
Yes! Thank you. (Simone de B.!)
@@TheEldritchArchives Maybe because you haven´t read any books by women. It´s a fairly well known situation which led to the feminist movement in the 60s and 70s.
@@hypatia4754 Dude makes an entire video geeking out about Shirley Jackson and her bibliography and you still say he must not read female authors. Sometimes people just have gaps in their general knowledge.
Bafflegabbing.
This is amazing! Thank you!!!
awesome video, really enjoyed this !!
In a truly feminist literature, women will be the villains just as often as they are the victims. Feminism is merely the clear view of reality (that women are as capable -and as fallible- as men).
Wow, I just discovered this author recently and love her work. It's so terrible she had to go through all of this in her life, it sounds like Stanley never loved her at all and only used her as a cash cow.
I seriously enjoyed this, I was completely absorbed in it, if I didn't understand some pieces or got distracted I rewound to clarify, I've now a much larger list of books I want to read and get from the library, especially now that covid restrictions are gradually beginning to lift and for me with mixed feelings!
Excellent analysis.
Thank you for this presentation, clarification of this writers work. I am a life long reader, a daily habit. I am new to S. Jackson's work. I began listening and felt a powerful pull to the effectiveness, minimal approach to her writing. It stands out, and I was relieved to have found a outstanding writer, again. Just now discovering that she a prolific writer, an admired writer. Rightly so, and the first book I read was your favorite book, as you remark in the closing. Being a product of a dedicated domineering mother parts of my puzzle fell into place as her life circumstances were woven into her writing. Lovely
Well done!
Thank you for your appreciation of this brilliant, and astute author.
It is so sad that so many great creations are born of or pain.
In Shirley's case it was probably the only way she could cope.
After all, in the pressure cooker of narcissistic abuse, something has to give.
It is a tragedy that it killed her in the end at a realitively young age.
If only she had a little bit more of Rosalie Ham's, Tilly Dumnage about her, she may have survived.
This imp of the perverse is the very darkest side of humanity (and even rears it's ugly head in other ape societies).
I believe that even Stephen King was actually referring to this in "It", and not some ancient alien being,as it is supposed.
Your video is a really great insight into Shirley Jackson that the movie "Shirley" failed to deliver on. I was so disappointed by that movie since it taught me nothing about her. I am going to read her bio since I haven't read it yet.
The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorite novels and the original movie 🍿 was fantastic! Always thought 💭 that Elenore showed signs that she was suffering from depression...
Wow I am speechless this was an amazing analysis! You are always extremely eloquent and entertaining! Please make more 'Castle' related videos! perhaps analysis a couple pages? or essay writing? etc? :)! Anything would be great im sure.
automatic subscription, this is great content
Well done bio.
... interesting! Thanks!!
A great fan of Jackson's work! Was not particularly pleased with the movie SHIRLEY = should have been far better
I agree! They made her come off as a bitch.
If she was, she had every right to be.
Great inspiration
Thank you, this was so good. I am re-reading some of her novels, I'm on Birdnest now and I just read Hangsaman. We have always lived in the Castle is one of my favorite books. She's perfect for feminist studies as well as just pure enjoyment.
I want to thank you for not only a beautiful analysis of Shirley Jackson and her writing, but for also including such wonderfully appropriate artworks for each section … and for attributing the artists! You have a new subscriber.
Currently reading we have always lived in the castle. A masterpiece
Thanks for this, I feel like I understand this author a lot better now. I wonder if she was a strong influence on Flannery O’ Connor?
Thank you.
I taught Women's U.S History and Shirley Jackson's books were always on my recommended books!❤
Born Elisabeth Moss in San Francisco. Lived in North Bennington, VERMONT. I had assumed she was from the South.
Thank you for this amazing video, I'm now a Subscriber! The 50-min viewing time literally flew by, the art chosen a most effective counterpoint to the content! Q: Shirley Jackson's husband, Stanley, was active in keeping her literary legacy alive after her death. But do you believe his constant undermining and adultery was due to jealousy of Shirley's writing prowess?
Thanks for the compliments! In regards to your question: I think that it is possible, although, Stanley's affairs predated Shirley's success as a writer by quite a few years. Stanley was basically always unfaithful to Shirley, even from the start of their relationship. I would say that Stanley's affairs were more a product of his personality rather than as a way of hurting Shirley. But who can say what his motivations were? Some hidden resentment on his part may have played a role. Although I think Stanley did genuinely think Shirley was one of the greatest writers of their time. But we can only speculate on how Stanley really felt. Hope that answers some of your question!
@@TheEldritchArchives Thank you! Yes, the letter Stanley wrote to her, pre-dating their marriage and describing his affair with another woman (in detail!), was definitely a sign (omen?) of Things to Come. Shirley endured the derision of her mother thus setting herself up to endure marital life with an emotionally abusive philanderer. Sad. I also believe that "passive" doesn't always mean "pushover" (eg "passive aggression"). I think I didn't explain well in previous comment!
@@LisaHawkinsHotJava Haha Stanley definitely gave off quite a few red flags in their early relationship! I think to Shirley the good in Stanley outweighed his hurtful behaviour.
Also, I agree with your previous comment, passive doesnt necessarily mean pushover! I dont think Shirley was a pushover, but rather sometimes she didnt have a choice to be anything but passive. In the case of Shirley's relationship with her mother that you mentioned I think Shirley was being strategic, even though she wanted to tell her mother off Shirley was also financially reliant on her mother. If Shirley had stood up to her mother she risked losing that financial support, so she was in a very very tough situation. Ultimately I think Shirley did what was best for her family and her children, but sometimes that meant putting up with other people's horrible behaviour.
I've never read any of her work, but after seeing this video, I think I'd like to read her work, intermittently with rereading Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters.
There's lots of good content here, and I really like the visuals. However am wondering why Jackson is referred to as "Shirley" throughout -- if Faulkner were the subject, would he be referred as William? Would Joyce be called James? It's condescending to refer to female authors by their first names.
Hello, thanks for comment. You make a good point, although calling Jackson "Shirley" has nothing to do with the writers gender. I have discussed Robert E. Howards career a lot and have been called out for referring to Howard as "Robert" also. I believe in a recent video about Howard's writing style I refer to him as Robert a few time. I understand it's not the style of academia, but I'm also not an academic either. It's a bad habit I picked up. I think when I research an author a lot I feel like I have a connection to their work and use their first name because that feels right.
Good video put plagued with spoilers if you haven’t read any of Jackson’s works.
She is a particular Goddess of mine, that’s all !
Her “We Have Always Lived in the Castle “ was the epic for me, a miserable 15 year old.She’s not around to defend herself or be amused by any of these speculations and I idolize her.
Yes, youre correct these are all speculations. I was really aware when I was making this about how unfair it is to rake over someone's life and speculate about their motivations. The only person who knew for sure was Shirley Jackson herself.
I think Jackson is one of the best writers of the 20th C. My main goal with this video was to explain Jackson's inspiration for some of her stories that might have come from her own life experiences. Apologies if I crossed the line and this video was in bad taste.
What a very gracious and kind remark.
🐾💜🌍🍺💚🧡
Womens' role didn't transition -- it was just multiplied.
I have been extremely attached to the writings of Shirley Jackson, and personally believe plenty of Merricat’s character in We Have Always Lived in the Castle to be evident of Jackson’s familiarity with neurodivergence. As you addressed, Jackson developed agoraphobia, and had anxiety. Merricat’s rituals, focuses, and routines are strikingly similar to that seen in people with OCD and/or autism (the two commonly go hand in hand), which at the time, would not have had descriptions beyond an illness in the head. If writing Merricat as an extension of herself, as many of Jackson’s characters are, it is possible Shirley Jackson was struggling with those afflictions in a time that was lacking proper diagnoses and care that did not involve active harming of those diagnosed.
SHIRLEY, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!!!
Reading the lottery was quite odd and confusing but after watching it, it's so disturbing and creepy
*Jackson's* writing is so emotional it is almost unbearable in its bones, in the souls & spirits of her characters
climax
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SEE JACKSON'S BIOPIC "SHIRLEY" WITH ELIZABETH MOSS. EXCELLENT!!!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Stan was the biggest jerk.
Her mother really conditioned Shirley not to value herself.
Unpopular opinion: Theo wasn’t terrible to Eleanor.
Don't let TikTokers read The Bird's Nest.
Ironically, her feelings of pressure to write and provide for the family is actually the pressure put on men of that era, not the women. Life is tough and people suffer irrespective of their gender. Shirley was very aware of that.
We have always LIVED in the house NOT LURKED wow you did not do much research
She died of "hardening of the arteries." A fitting end of life ... for a woman who focused on all the negative shit, all day long, on all of the people, all of the time.
Yes, that is because she lived in reality.
Blah, blah, blah. They always blame the mother!
Okay SJW, here’s a little newsflash for you: THERE ARE PLENTY OF DELIBERATELY ABUSIVE MOTHERS IN REAL LIFE. Shirley Jackson’s mother was definitely not the first and certainly won’t be the last.
Baloney
Thanks for mansplaining and removing all the Marxism and Radical Feminism Bro!
They don't understand
SHIRLEY JACKSON IS AKIN TO EDGAR ALLEN POE...THEY WROTE STORIES INSPIRED BY THEIR LIVES, LOVE, LOSS, HAUNTINGS OF THE EVERYDAY LIFE.❤❤❤❤❤👍👍👍👍👍👍📚📚📙📗📘
climax