1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is a highly acclaimed psychological ghost story. Numerous literary critics and readers are unanimous that one of the distinctive features of the book is its eerie mood. The author applies a wide range of subtle and effective methods to create a tone of menace and dread. The opening paragraph, which provides a brief description of the house, sets the tone for the whole book. Particularly, phrases like “darkness” and “silence” within the house set a negative tone (Jackson, 1). Jackson’s choice of words is remarkable. She uses a variety of words with negative meaning to create mysterious images and settings and convey the feelings of apprehension, anxiety, disharmony, and fear. The people and places that Eleanor encounters on her way to Hill House are depressing, and tension increases as the story progresses. Torn road signs, poisonous oleander trees, ruined gates, dirty houses and crooked streets of Hillsdale, ugly and unwelcoming girl from the café, unattractive hills, heavy and ominous gates of Hill House, closed doors contribute to the gloomy mood.
2. A. Shirley Jackson provides a detailed and vivid description of Hill House and explains what influence the dwelling has on its visitors. This vile and diseased mansion looks menacing and hostile. It is presented as a place of despair, “a house without kindness, never meant to be lived in, not a fit place for people or for love or for hope” (19). It has not been inhabited for many years, and it is believed to be haunted. The author’s note that citizens of Hillsdale are “rude to strangers and openly hostile to anyone inquiring about Hill House” is an important characteristic which helps readers to predict what supernatural manifestations might wait for the protagonists there (8). The isolated location, bizarre architecture and mysterious history of the house make the protagonists nervous and frightened. The house seems to watch every move Dr. Montague and his assistants make. The description of Mr. and Mrs. Dudley’s suspicious behaviour adds to the gloomy image of the house.
B. Dr. John Montague, Eleanor, Theodora, and Luke Sanderson are the protagonists of the book under discussion. Dr. Montague is a ghost hunter; he is interested in poltergeist incidents and is eager to explore supernatural phenomena and psychic disturbances. He rents Hill House and invites others to participate in the project, since he wants to investigate paranormal manifestations in the house and publish a book about his scientific observation. Unlike Dr. Montague, who knows exactly what he hopes to experience in the house, his assistants keep asking themselves why they have accepted Doctor’s invitation. Theodora, for instance, wanted to decline the invitation at first, but decided to join Dr. Montague after the argument with her friend. Dr. Montague was allowed to carry out his researches in the house on the condition that Luke was to participate. As for Eleanor, she tries to run away from her loneliness and memories; she is eager to see what life is …