Chapter 3 Flashcards
A change was coming, and nobody knew it but me….. Even Jonas was fretful
ANALYSIS
Merricat forecasts an impending disruption to jer isolated life, a disruption that comes in the form of their cousin Charles. Her witch-like ability suggests her strong bond with nature and the non-human world.
MESSAGE
* Jackson celebrates the strength and resilience of unconventional women, that deviate from a male worldview.
* Published during world war two, Jackson seems to be convery that change is often frightening, as the world seems to get worse rather than better.
It was necessary for me to check constantly to be sure that the wires were not broken and the gates were securely locked.
ANALYSIS
* Reflects Merricat’s constant vigilance and the sense of paranoia and fear that pervades the Blackwood sisters’ existence
* Merricat’s effort to safegurad the mansion from the external world which has proven hostile and dangerous
MESSAGE
* It serves as a critique of societal ostracism and highlights the resilience of those who are marginalised and forced to live on the fringes of society.
* Underscores the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their safe havens from perceived threats.
All the Blackwood women had made food and had taken pride in adding to the great supply of food in our cellar.
ANALYSIS
* Illustrates the complexities of womanhood and the traditional domestic roles women are often expected to fulfil
MESSAGE
* While the task of preparing food might be seen as a mundane domestic chore, Jackson elevates it to a point of pride and survival, suggesting the inherent strength and resilience in these traditionally feminine tasks, celebrating female self-reliance and autonomy.
If I had a winged horse I could fly him to the moon; he would be more comfortable there.
ANALYSIS
* This is Merricat’s reply to Constance’s report that their Uncle Julian is not well.
* Unwilling or unable to face unpleasant facts, Merricat responds as if she were a much younger child. She retreats to fantasy as a method for dealing with serious matters.
MESSAGE
* Jackson might be suggesting that those who deviate from societal norms, like Merricat, often seek solace in such fantastical, alternate worlds, highlighting the oppressive nature of societal expectations and conventions.
We eat the year away. We eat the spring and the summer and the fall. We wait for something to grow and then we eat it.”
ANALYSIS
* Signifies their cyclical existence that’s tied to the rhythms of nature and the seasons. Not only do they eat food, but they also eat time.
* This process comes to feel almost sinister, as though they are consuming the entire world around them.
MESSAGE
* Instead of being dependent or subservient, they are autonomous and self-sufficient, surviving on their own terms despite societal ostracisation.
