Eleanor’s Entanglement: Quantum Perspectives on Trauma and Space in Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House

Abstract

Quantum theory gives us a surprising idea: the observer influences what’s being observed, meaning that reality is not fixed. It is flexible, shaped by who is watching and from what angle. This can also be applied to literature, where characters’ perceptions and surroundings are influenced by their inner world. Trauma theory adds yet another layer, showing how unhealed psychological wounds shape our views, often distorting reality and, sometimes, even our sense of who we are. In The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson brings these theories together in the haunting relationship between Eleanor Vance and the house. Hill House is not just a setting but it seems to respond to Eleanor’s emotions, subtly shifting and twisting as her mental state changes. The strange events can be seen as manifestations of Eleanor’s trauma, making the house a living mirror of her fractured mind. This perspective indicates that the haunting in Hill House is not just about ghosts or some supernatural force; it’s deeply tied to Eleanor’s mind blending with the house itself. Exploring this connection between trauma and perception helps us see Hill House not only as a frightening place but as a reflection of Eleanor’s fragile sense of self. Through Eleanor’s unsettling journey, Jackson invites us to question what’s real, and what’s imagined, and how our fears and identities shape the world we see around us. It’s the kind of story that stays, raising questions about reality and self that linger long after the final page.