It is difficult to definitively answer whether Constance and Merricat were abused due to the lack of information in Shirley Jackson’s novel ‘We Have Always Lived In The Castle’. However, there are numerous signs that abuse may have occurred.
The most obvious sign of abuse is the distant and negative relationship between Merricat and her uncle, Julian Blackwood. Julian is verbally aggressive and condescending to Merricat, often belittling her and her ideas.
He calls her “fool of Great Age” and “a troublesome monster”, and prevents her from going outside. Other signs of mistreatment include Uncle Julian’s refusal to allow Merricat to take part in any house chores, and his attempt to harm Merricat and her sister while they are sleeping.
Though neither Constance nor Merricat express any kind of physical mistreatment, there may be possible emotional abuse taking place. Constance keeps almost all of her thoughts and emotions to herself, and she often appears shell-shocked or numb to her surroundings.
Merricat also exhibits signs of emotional detachment, and she often withdraws into her own thoughts and fantasies, unable to engage with her environment.
Overall, there is no clear evidence of abuse taking place in ‘We Have Always Lived In The Castle’, but there are several hints that suggest something sinister may have occurred between Constance and Merricat and their uncle.
What mental illness does Merricat have?
Merricat is a character from Shirley Jackson’s novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and it has been suggested that she suffers from schizoid personality disorder. Merricat displays many traits associated with this disorder, such as difficulty forming relationships, difficulty empathizing with others, low self-esteem, detachment from social interaction, and a tendency to live in a fantasy world.
Merricat creates her own ritualistic behaviors, with the help of her sister, which starts to become increasingly rigid and obsessive over time. She is also paranoid, believing that the people of the town are out to harm her family, and is distrustful of strangers.
Her behavior can also be interpreted as being a product of her childhood trauma. Merricat also shows signs of depression as she withdraws from external activities, withdrawing further and further into her inner fantasy world.
Ultimately, Merricat is an intriguing character who illustrates how mental illnesses can be manifested in different ways, and that those with mental illnesses can live fulfilling and meaningful lives.
Is Merricat a sociopath?
No, Merricat does not appear to be a sociopath. In fact, the opposite is true; Merricat is a very sensitive and caring individual despite her strange behavior. Sociopaths lack empathy and exhibit cold and calculating behavior when interacting with others, while Merricat consistently displays love and warmth towards her sister and uncle.
Merricat is creative and often uses her imagination to come up with solutions to her problems. She also has a strong awareness of justice and morality, and is often able to empathize with people’s struggles and feelings.
Merricat may have a unique way of expressing herself, but she is far from a sociopath.
Does Merricat have OCD?
No, Merricat does not have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Merricat’s perspective and actions throughout the novel do not necessarily coincide with the known symptoms of OCD. Merricat’s obsessions and rituals are a coping mechanism due to her traumatic life experiences and her position within her family; specifically, she has been a victim of domestic violence and neglect from her older sister, Constance.
She has a tendency to retreat from society, retreat into her own mind, and creates her own world from which to escape. She has a phobia of the outside world, represented by the village, which could be seen as an irrational fear.
However, this phobia has a clear explanation that relates to her background and upbringing. Merricat also follows rituals and superstitions that may seem obsessive, however, these are behaviors she has developed out of a need to create structure within the chaotic and isolated lives they lead.
The rituals help her to feel in control of the environment around her and to feel safe in her home. Ultimately, Merricat’s behavior can be explained and is not necessarily indicative of OCD.
Why is Merricat obsessed with Constance?
Merricat is obsessed with Constance for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is her protective nature towards her sister. From a young age, Merricat has looked up to and admired Constance. Constance is the only one who truly understands and cares for Merricat, and Merricat is devoted to her.
Constance’s intelligence and bravery also contribute to Merricat’s admiration. Constance serves as a role model for Merricat, someone she can aspire to be like. Merricat views Constance as a source of strength and stability, even if she is unable to fully understand the complexities of the world.
Finally, Merricat is obsessed with Constance because of the sense of security that comes with having someone reliable to depend on. Living in a chaotic world, Merricat turns to Constance as a source of solace and comfort.
This is exemplified in the way that Merricat talks about Constance and how she goes out of her way to make sure Constance feels appreciated and safe.
What is Merricat not allowed to do?
Merricat is not allowed to go into town, unless it is with her brother, Charles. She is not allowed to talk to anyone from outside of their family, or even go near the edge of their property. She is also not allowed to play with the cats from the barn, as they have been deemed too dangerous.
Finally, Merricat is not allowed to take any chances or do anything that might endanger her family’s safety.
Why isn t Merricat allowed to help prepare food?
Merricat is not allowed to help prepare food because her family is outwardly very conscious about the general public’s perception of her and her sister, Constance. Merricat is mentally ill and her family is worried that if she is seen helping prepare food, the public will not view them favorably.
They also worry that Merricat, who is easily excitable, may do something that could potentially get her, her sister, or the family in trouble. For these reasons, Merricat’s family has decided to keep her away from the kitchen and not allow her to help prepare food.
Does Merricat show remorse for killing her family?
Merricat does not appear to show any remorse for killing her family. Throughout the novel, she very rarely mentions her family, and never indicates that she regrets her actions. On the contrary, she consistently expresses her satisfaction with her new life in isolation.
For instance, near the beginning of the novel, she states, “I was seven and I buried the cats in the vegetable garden. I was so small that I couldn’t even dig the graves very deep although I tried. It seemed to me very important to bury them deep enough so that nothing could reach up and pull them out into the sunlight again.” This quote implies that Merricat believes she did the right thing by killing her family, and that her sole intention was to protect them.
Moreover, later in the book, when explaining a story to her sister Constance, she remarks, “You see, I did it all for you, Constance. I made a world for you where you’d never have to be frightened.” This indicates that Merricat believes she did the right thing out of love and devotion to Constance, further emphasizing her seeming lack of remorse.
Why does the town hate Merricat?
The town of North Hampsted hates Merricat because she is different from everyone else. She is strange and scary, and many believe she is a witch due to rumors that she is able to move things with her mind.
Merricat is also shunned because of her appearance, as she is described as having an unkempt, disheveled appearance. Furthermore, the townspeople think that Merricat is tied to the mysterious death of her uncle, even though no one can prove it.
Merricat’s behavior also makes the townspeople uncomfortable and they view her as a threat to their safety. Merricat is also related to the Blackwood family, who owned a lot of property in the town but are no longer in power, making the townspeople feel threatened.
The townspeople also fear and resent Merricat’s power and influence, as she is able to manipulate things to her advantage.
Why does Constance cover for Merricat?
Constance follows a strong sense of loyalty and devotion to Merricat, which motivates her to cover for her sister’s antics. Ever since their parents’ death, Constance and Merricat have been very close; aside from living together in their home, they often look out for one another.
Merricat is a scatterbrained person who can get herself into some peculiar situations, but Constance has her back by assuming responsibility for when necessary. Furthermore, Constance understands that Merricat’s behavior is often the result of her delicate mental state; she takes on the task of protecting her from repercussions that could potentially cause her more harm.
Constance’s dedication to her sister is driven by her unconditional love for Merricat, which explains why she is willing to do everything in her power to keep her happy.
What mental health issues are in Wuthering Heights?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is a classic novel which depicts the intense emotions and relationships between the main characters. As such, it explores a variety of mental health issues common during the time the novel was written.
These mental health issues include: grief and sorrow, depression, abandonment, anger, revenge, obsessive love, and addiction/withdrawal.
Grief and sorrow are perhaps the most dominant themes in the novel, and are felt by many characters. Catherine and Heathcliff, in particular, experience deep emotional pain which is related to their respective losses of family members, most notably Catherine’s loss of her beloved father.
Throughout the novel, both characters struggle to find emotional resolution for their losses, and it ultimately affects their mental well-being.
Depression is another mental health issue which is explored in Wuthering Heights, and is particularly felt by Heathcliff and Catherine. Heathcliff descends into deep depression after his separation from Catherine, and Emily Bronte uses vivid language to depict his despair.
Catherine, on the other hand, experiences depression related to her lost dreams of marrying Edgar and escaping Wuthering Heights. In both cases, the depression is prolonged and deeply rooted in the characters’ emotions and experiences.
Abandonment is another mental health issue which is explored in Wuthering Heights; Heathcliff and Catherine both experience abandonment throughout their lives, due to the death of Catherine’s father, Heathcliff’s abandonment by Mr. Earnshaw, and Catherine’s eventual death.
Abandonment can be a damaging emotional experience, and both characters struggle to cope with these losses, which leads to other psychological issues.
Anger is another mental health issue which is explored in the novel. For both Heathcliff and Catherine, anger is an emotional crutch used to cope with their respective losses. Heathcliff often lashes out with his anger, making it a destructive force in the novel, while Catherine sometimes employs her anger to exert control in her interactions with Edgar.
Revenge is another emotional issue which plays a prominent role in the novel; Heathcliff in particular is driven by a desire for revenge against those who have wronged him. This desire is so strong that it shapes the majority of Heathcliff’s decisions throughout the novel.
Obsessive love is another mental health issue discussed in the novel; both Heathcliff and Catherine suffer from excessive and unhealthy attachments to each other. To them, their love is an obsession which overrides their emotions and behaviors.
Finally, addiction/withdrawal is another mental health issue in Wuthering Heights which is experienced by many of the main characters. This is seen most prominently in Joseph’s alcoholism, as well as Catherine and Heathcliff’s addiction to each other.
Both characters experience severe withdrawal symptoms when they are unable to be together, which leads to further psychological distress.
What is the relationship between Merricat and Constance?
Merricat and Constance are sisters and share a loving, if sometimes strained, relationship. Despite the seven year age gap between them, the girls have a tight bond and rely heavily on one another. Merricat idolizes Constance, often looking to her for guidance and admiration.
Though she can be a bit jealous of her sister’s relationship with their uncle Julian and his mental deterioration, Merricat does her best to remain loyal and supportive. Constance is protective of Merricat and does her best to create a sense of normalcy for them after the tragic death of their parents.
Although she often feels overwhelmed and inadequate in providing support, Constance loves Merricat deeply and cares deeply for her safety and well-being. She often respects Merricat’s wishes, despite being unaware of the true implications they may have.
Despite the difficulties they may face, Merricat and Constance’s relationship is strong and continues to be a source of love and comfort for both sisters.
