The Haunting of Hill House Lesson Plan

What do you notice about the nature of suffering in the history of Hill House?

Dr. Montague’s monologue about the history of Hill House reveals certain trends about the suffering that has occurred in and out of the house. First, the most prominent trend is that only women have died in the house. Crain’s first two wives, old Miss Crain, and the companion all suffered inside the house. Even the younger sister was ruined by her obsession with the house. Dr. Montague’s story does nothing to indicate that Hugh Crain suffered in similar ways. Second, Jackson as the narrator underscores that reality is tenuous inside the house. Dr. Montague refers multiple times to gossip from...