Connections: What part of this writing most resonated with you?

I understand the narrator’s frustration when you are constantly searching for something (metaphorically or literally) and there are no answers to be found. You could be after something that in the end was never found. The part of Jackson’s writing that resonated with me was when she was on the run doing whatever in her favour to find her fiancé. Every time I lose an item in my house, I make sure to make it everyone else’s problem. I would consistently ask where they have placed the item and their response would always be “i don’t know”. And then I become driven mad to the point where I tear apart almost every corner to find what I have been looking for as I can’t just rest and move on until I find my item.

Challenges: What was challenging or difficult about reading this?

What makes Jackson’s writing difficult to read is her lengthy syntax. Especially during the introduction, she has the tendency to lose the reader’s attention. She describes everyday tedious tasks and that again can lose the focus and interest of the reader.

Concepts: What concepts does this writing explore?

This writing explores intertextuality, where an allusion is made to a ballad of the same name or sometimes referred to as ‘James Harris’. During her time, Shirley Jackson had endured many mental health issues that can be reflected throughout her work. When you read this short story, you may believe the narrator to be losing their mind or driving towards insanity. This text explores a woman being tormented and mocked by her community instead of being listened to. The narrator frantically searches for her fiancé. her search for him can symbolise her searching for the validation her community fails to provide. It is a constant cycle of frenzy until you’ve driven yourself mad.

Changes: How does this extract change or alter your understanding of reading and writing?

The Daemon Lover teaches us that validation to fit into societal expectations is part of the human condition. The Gothic genre can be a reflection of the writer’s emotional state. It made me more aware on how during her times, having anxiety or depression or any type of mental health problems could just be translated into ‘insanity’. Jackson’s work remains relevant today as women are still not heard and judged off as being “too dramatic” or overreacting to a situation. Jackson successfully portrays this in her piece, proving that some concepts will always remain relevant. No matter how long ago a piece was produced, it can still represent ideas again, still relevant today.