Gossip says she hanged herself from the turret on the tower, but when you have a house like Hill House with a tower and a turret, gossip would hardly allow you to hang yourself anywhere else.
Shirley JacksonRead
I was pretending that I did not speak their language; on the moon we spoke a soft, liquid tongue, and sang in the starlight, looking down on the dead dried world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the idea of communication beyond verbal language, emphasizing connection through shared experiences and emotions.
In this quote, Shirley Jackson reflects on the transcendent qualities of communication and connection that go beyond mere words. The imagery of singing in starlight while looking down on a barren world suggests that true understanding and emotional resonance can occur even when conventional language barriers exist, allowing for deep connections that transcend differences and alienation.
Themes
CommunicationConnectionLanguageUnderstandingTranscendence
In practice
Example use cases
During a multicultural event to highlight the importance of understanding beyond language barriers.
More from Shirley Jackson
All quotes →It watches," he added suddenly. "The house. It watches every move you make.
Shirley JacksonRead
There had not been this many words sounded in our house for a long time, and it was going to take a while to clean them out.
Shirley JacksonRead
Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.
Shirley JacksonRead
I can't help it when people are frightened," says Merricat. "I always want to frighten them more.
Shirley JacksonRead
We moved together very slowly toward the house, trying to understand its ugliness and ruin and shame.
Shirley JacksonRead
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