Is Shirley Jackson a psycho? A psycho is someone who is deranged and out of the ordinary. In my opinion, I think that Shirley Jackson fits this definition well. Not only does this effect her personality, it also effects her writing.
One effect of her being a psycho is in the story, “One Ordinary Day With Peanuts”. I realized that Mr. Johnson was a nice, friendly person who cares and accepts people. In fact, Mr. Johnson was almost too nice; it seemed that it was unbelievable. “It was a bright morning with a feeling that all was well with the world on this best of all days...” (Jackson) However, at the end I learned that he was just the opposite, and was really non-caring about people. “ ‘Right’ said Mr. Johnson. ‘What’s for dinner?’ ‘Veal cutlet.’ ‘Had it for lunch,’ said Mr. Johnson.” Once I read about part of her early life, were her mothers expectations drove her psycho. I learned that Shirley connected this story with how her mother tried to get her to be perfect. Shirley’s mother wanted her to appear nice, polite,and caring at all times. When Shirley was around her mother, she was nice,polite, and caring. However, when Shirley was not around her mother, she was her own little self. Her interests were in being mean, follower of witchcraft, voodoo, and did other bad/dark things. “Jackson had a split personality. One was a turgid, fearful ugly-duckling, permanently cowed by the severity of her upbringing by a suburban mother obsessed with appearances.....” (Lethem) Another quote is, “This second Shirley Jackson dedicated herself to rejecting her mother’s sense of property, drank and smoked and fed to buttery excess-.....” (Lethem)
Another effect of her being a psycho is in the story, “The Lottery”. Were in the Story, someone is chosen every year. That chosen person is then killed. The people in the town have no bad feelings about the killing. However, when one lady was chosen to be killed, she had different feelings about it. She had thought that some rules should be changed and make it more fair. Shirley Jackson wrote this book after she was pelted with stones. “Jackson had been pelted with stones by schoolchildren one day, then gone home and written the story”. (Lethem)
The outcome from this report has led me to believe that if Shirley Jackson had not been pushed by her mother and persecuted by others, that her stories would probably not be around or not be any good. Also by her being psycho, she was able to use her life and put it in stories that a lot of people have now read.
Shirley Jackson Reports
Jenny's Shirley Jackson Report
Brian's Shirley Jackson Report
Jason's Shirley Jackson Report
Jayson's Shirley Jackson Report
Bonnie's Shirley Jackson Report
Tausha's Shirley Jackson Report
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