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** Though the filmmakers seemed to have taken inspiration from him when they named the misbehaving, obnoxious little boy in the grocery store Thomas.
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Adding example.
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* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Death by arsenic is heavy-metal poisoning, meaning it would have to accumulate in your system to kill you. A massive dose in the sugar bowl would be immediately detectable (as arsenic has a bitter, nasty taste--imagine getting a mouthful of powdered aluminum). No one would have gotten past the first bite before spitting it out, and a residual mouthful of arsenic, while not the greatest thing for one's liver or kidneys, is not fatal. Even if the Blackwoods could choke down such a large direct dose, death would be a slow, agonizing process over a period of days as their organs slowly shut down. Yet Constance apparently watches the entire family "dropping like flies" in the immediate aftermath of dinner. And in fact, it appears that Jackson knew this: the original poison was strychnine, which really ''would'' produce the rapid, dramatic death portrayed in the story, and which was in turn a nod to one of Jackson's favorite murderers, Jane Toppan, who poisoned her patients this way.
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* TheSociopath: [[spoiler:Mary Katherine]].
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* TheSociopath: [[spoiler:Mary Katherine]].Katherine. She was tired of going to bed without supper, so she decided to kill every member of her family except her sister. She frequently fantasizes about killing people she dislikes and about people loving and submitting to her, and her obsession with her sister (and subsequent violence towards anyone who gets in her way) stems from her sister's unconditional love.]]
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In spite of their isolation, the remaining Blackwoods live a contented, orderly life: Constance handles the cleaning, cooking, and gardening, [[MostWritersAreWriters Uncle Julian works to complete his endless book]], while Merricat makes sure that the gates are always locked and that the magical charms that protect them are always secure. Once a week, Merricat braves the glaring to visit the village for supplies, but she's always glad to return home to her beloved sister, where things are safe and nothing ever changes.
Then, one day, their long-lost cousin Charles shows up for a visit...
Then, one day, their long-lost cousin Charles shows up for a visit...
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In spite of their isolation, the remaining Blackwoods live a contented, orderly life: Constance handles the cleaning, cooking, and gardening, [[MostWritersAreWriters Uncle Julian works to complete his endless book]], while Merricat makes sure that the gates are always locked and that the magical charms that protect them are always secure. Once a week, Merricat braves the glaring sullen, hostile villagers to visit the village grocery for supplies, but she's always glad to return home to her beloved sister, where things are safe and nothing ever changes.
Then, one day, their long-lost cousin Charles shows up for avisit...
visit, and nothing will ever be the same again.
Then, one day, their long-lost cousin Charles shows up for a
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* AdaptedOut: Merricat and Constance's younger brother Thomas is completely absent from the film. He isn't even pictured in the Blackwood family portrait that is prominently displayed in several scenes.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Potentially justified, as Merricat likewise holds everyone (except for Constance) in contempt.
* ArcWords: "On the moon..." Merricat frequently imagines taking her sister to live on the moon, which she envisions as a perfectly safe, perfectly isolated magical kingdom. [[spoiler: In the end, when the sisters are living in their half-destroyed home and have decided never to come out again, Merricat claims that they are finally on the moon.]]
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Potentially justified, as Merricat likewise holds everyone (except for Constance) in contempt.
* ArcWords: "On the moon..." Merricat frequently imagines taking her sister to live on the moon, which she envisions as a perfectly safe, perfectly isolated magical kingdom. [[spoiler: In the end, when the sisters are living in their half-destroyed home and have decided never to come out again, Merricat claims that they are finally on the moon.]]
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* ArcWords: "On the moon..." Merricat frequently imagines taking her sister to live on the moon, which she envisions as a perfectly safe, perfectly isolated magical kingdom. [[spoiler: In the end, when the sisters are living in their half-destroyed home and have decided never to come out again, Merricat claims that they are finally on the moon.]]
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Potentially justified, as Merricat likewise holds everyone (except for Constance) in contempt.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Potentially justified, as Merricat likewise holds everyone (except for Constance) in contempt.
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* KarmaHoudini: The villagers never face any consequences for their harassment of the Blackwood family. [[spoiler: At the end of the book they get away with ransacking the house after the second floor is destroyed in a fire and all we see come out of it is one of the people who took part in the ransacking apologize and leave the girls some eggs, though the food keeps coming from various townsfolk and it's implied to be a good portion of what they live on.]]
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* KarmaHoudini: KarmaHoudini:
** The villagers never face any consequences for their harassment of the Blackwood family. [[spoiler: At the end of the book they get away with ransacking the house after the second floor is destroyed in a fire and all we see come out of it is one of the people who took part in the ransacking apologize and leave the girls some eggs, though the food keeps coming from various townsfolk and it's implied to be a good portion of what they live on.]]
** [[spoiler: Merricat commits murder and not only gets away with it without being suspected, but ends up with what, for her, is the happiest possible outcome: she has her beloved sister all to herself and never has to leave home again.]]
** The villagers never face any consequences for their harassment of the Blackwood family. [[spoiler: At the end of the book they get away with ransacking the house after the second floor is destroyed in a fire and all we see come out of it is one of the people who took part in the ransacking apologize and leave the girls some eggs, though the food keeps coming from various townsfolk and it's implied to be a good portion of what they live on.]]
** [[spoiler: Merricat commits murder and not only gets away with it without being suspected, but ends up with what, for her, is the happiest possible outcome: she has her beloved sister all to herself and never has to leave home again.]]
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* KarmaHoudini: The villagers never face any consequences for their harassment of the Blackwood family. [[spoiler: At the end of the book they get away with ransacking the house after the second floor is destroyed in a fire and all we see come out of it is one of the people who took part in the ransacking apologize and leave the girls some eggs.]]
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* KarmaHoudini: The villagers never face any consequences for their harassment of the Blackwood family. [[spoiler: At the end of the book they get away with ransacking the house after the second floor is destroyed in a fire and all we see come out of it is one of the people who took part in the ransacking apologize and leave the girls some eggs.eggs, though the food keeps coming from various townsfolk and it's implied to be a good portion of what they live on.]]
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** Merricat and Constance, ''big time''. It's very possible that a central cause of Mary and Charles' conflict was that Charles was taking Mary's place in that respect.
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* KarmaHoudini: The villagers never face any consequences for their harassment of the Blackwood family. [[spoiler: At the end of the book they get away with ransacking the house after the second floor is destroyed in a fire and all we see come out of it is one of the people who took part in the ransacking apologize and leave the girls some eggs.]]
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** Mitigated somewhat in the movie: [[spoiler:Merricat poisoned the family to protect Constance from their "wicked" father, with the mother and aunt as collateral damage.]]
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* DaylightHorror: In spite of its dark reputation, the Blackwood House is always described with literal sunlight streaming through every room, particularly Constance's kitchen and garden. The story itself takes place during one particularly beautiful week in spring.
** Uncle Julian notes on several occasions that the Blackwoods died on a bright, beautiful summer day when no one would suspect anything amiss.
** Uncle Julian notes on several occasions that the Blackwoods died on a bright, beautiful summer day when no one would suspect anything amiss.
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A 1962 novel by Creator/ShirleyJackson, who is best known for her short story "Literature/TheLottery". ''We Have Always Lived In The Castle'' tells the story of the Blackwood family, the only three remainders of which are narrator eighteen-year-old Merricat, her beautiful, agoraphobic older sister Constance, and their ailing Uncle Julian. Constance has not set foot off the grounds since the night six years ago when a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the family sugar bowl, leaving Julian permanently disabled and the sisters orphaned. Though acquitted of the murders, Constance is the target of suspicion and hatred from the people of the nearby village.
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It tells the story of the Blackwood family, the only three remainders of which are narrator eighteen-year-old Merricat, her beautiful, agoraphobic older sister Constance, and their ailing Uncle Julian. Constance has not set foot off the grounds since the night six years ago when a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the family sugar bowl, leaving Julian permanently disabled and the sisters orphaned. Though acquitted of the murders, Constance is the target of suspicion and hatred from the people of the nearby village.
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page quotes aren't supposed to have potholes in them
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-->''My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the deathcup mushroom. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Everyone else in my family is dead.]]''
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A 1962 novel by Creator/ShirleyJackson, who is best known for her short story "Literature/TheLottery". ''We Have Always Lived In The Castle'' tells the story of the Blackwood family, the only three remainders of which are narrator eighteen-year-old Merricat, her beautiful, agoraphobic older sister Constance, and their ailing Uncle Julian. Constance has not set foot off the grounds since the night seven years ago when a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the family sugar bowl, leaving Julian permanently disabled and the sisters orphaned. Though acquitted of the murders, Constance is the target of suspicion and hatred from the people of the nearby village.
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A 1962 novel by Creator/ShirleyJackson, who is best known for her short story "Literature/TheLottery". ''We Have Always Lived In The Castle'' tells the story of the Blackwood family, the only three remainders of which are narrator eighteen-year-old Merricat, her beautiful, agoraphobic older sister Constance, and their ailing Uncle Julian. Constance has not set foot off the grounds since the night seven six years ago when a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the family sugar bowl, leaving Julian permanently disabled and the sisters orphaned. Though acquitted of the murders, Constance is the target of suspicion and hatred from the people of the nearby village.
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* HateAtFirstSight: Mary Katherine towards her cousin. From her perspective, he is an intruder who disturbs her world. It only gets worse with time.
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* HateAtFirstSight: Mary Katherine towards her cousin. From her perspective, he is an intruder who disturbs her world. It only gets worse with time.(In her defense, she's right to hate him.)
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In spite of their isolation, the remaining Blackwoods live a contented, orderly life: Constance handles the cleaning, cooking, and gardening, [[MostWritersAreWriter Uncle Julian works to complete his endless book]], while Merricat makes sure that the gates are always locked and that the magical charms that protect them are always secure. Once a week, Merricat braves the glaring to visit the village for supplies, but she's always glad to return home to her beloved sister, where things are safe and nothing ever changes.
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In spite of their isolation, the remaining Blackwoods live a contented, orderly life: Constance handles the cleaning, cooking, and gardening, [[MostWritersAreWriter [[MostWritersAreWriters Uncle Julian works to complete his endless book]], while Merricat makes sure that the gates are always locked and that the magical charms that protect them are always secure. Once a week, Merricat braves the glaring to visit the village for supplies, but she's always glad to return home to her beloved sister, where things are safe and nothing ever changes.
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A 1962 novel by Creator/ShirleyJackson, who is best known for her short story "Literature/TheLottery". ''We Have Always Lived In The Castle'' tells the story of the Blackwood family, the only three remainders of which are the narrator, eighteen year-old Merricat, her older sister Constance, and their crippled Uncle Julian. The three of them live in isolation in an old manor and are the target of suspicion and hatred from the people of the nearby village.
Everything changes when, one day, their cousin Charles shows up for a visit...
Everything changes when, one day, their cousin Charles shows up for a visit...
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A 1962 novel by Creator/ShirleyJackson, who is best known for her short story "Literature/TheLottery". ''We Have Always Lived In The Castle'' tells the story of the Blackwood family, the only three remainders of which are the narrator, eighteen year-old narrator eighteen-year-old Merricat, her beautiful, agoraphobic older sister Constance, and their crippled ailing Uncle Julian. The three Constance has not set foot off the grounds since the night seven years ago when a fatal dose of them live in isolation in an old manor arsenic found its way into the family sugar bowl, leaving Julian permanently disabled and are the sisters orphaned. Though acquitted of the murders, Constance is the target of suspicion and hatred from the people of the nearby village.
Everything changes when, In spite of their isolation, the remaining Blackwoods live a contented, orderly life: Constance handles the cleaning, cooking, and gardening, [[MostWritersAreWriter Uncle Julian works to complete his endless book]], while Merricat makes sure that the gates are always locked and that the magical charms that protect them are always secure. Once a week, Merricat braves the glaring to visit the village for supplies, but she's always glad to return home to her beloved sister, where things are safe and nothing ever changes.
Then, one day, their long-lost cousin Charles shows up for a visit...
Then, one day, their long-lost cousin Charles shows up for a visit...
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subverted is when it first seem like the trope is happening, but it turns out not to be; having the opposite of the usual trope would be inversion
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* DeadAllAlong: Subverted. [[spoiler: Near the end of the book, Uncle Julian reveals that he believes Merricat died in an orphanage during her sister's murder trial. A careful reader may have noticed that Merricat and Uncle Julian never speak to each other through the whole novel.]]
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* DeadAllAlong: Subverted.Inverted. [[spoiler: Near the end of the book, Uncle Julian reveals that he believes Merricat died in an orphanage during her sister's murder trial. A careful reader may have noticed that Merricat and Uncle Julian never speak to each other through the whole novel.]]
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* GothicHorror
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* GothicHorrorGothicHorror: Requisite huge, spooky house on a hill containing a beautiful imperiled maiden, a creepy child, and their vast untouched family fortune, while dirty angry villagers mutter suspicions about an unsolved murder.
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* DeathByAdaptation: In the film version, [[spoiler: Merricat murders Charles.]]
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Everything changes when, one day, their cousin shows up for a visit...
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Everything changes when, one day, their cousin Charles shows up for a visit...visit...
In 2018, almost sixty years after its publication, the book was adapted into a movie with an A-list cast: Creator/TaissaFarmiga as Merricat, Creator/AlexandraDaddario as Constance, Creator/SebastianStan as Charles, and Creator/CrispinGlover as Uncle Julian.
In 2018, almost sixty years after its publication, the book was adapted into a movie with an A-list cast: Creator/TaissaFarmiga as Merricat, Creator/AlexandraDaddario as Constance, Creator/SebastianStan as Charles, and Creator/CrispinGlover as Uncle Julian.
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* {{Foreshadowing}}: Merricat lists the death cap mushroom as one of the things she likes in the page quote, and has a habit of describing poisonous plants as an ImpliedDeathThreat whenever Charles is eating something. [[spoiler:Considering her fascination with anything poisonous, it's only fitting that she was the one who poisoned her family.]]
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* {{Foreshadowing}}: Merricat lists the death cap "death cup" mushroom as one of the things she likes in the page quote, and has a habit of describing poisonous plants as an ImpliedDeathThreat whenever Charles is eating something. [[spoiler:Considering her fascination with anything poisonous, it's only fitting that she was the one who poisoned her family.]]
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* ImagineSpot: When it seems Charles has turned Constance against her, Merricat retreats to the family's decrepit summer house and imagines her whole family showering her with praise and adoration.
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* LongTitle: Merricat compares Blackwood House to "a castle, turreted and open to the sky" [[spoiler:after the house is partially destroyed by fire.]]
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* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: After Constance was accused of poisoning her entire family, guests to the house tend to hesitate before digging in to her treats. Subverted, in that everything Constance cooks is delicious (and harmless).
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[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/we_have_always_lived_in_the_castle.jpg]]
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[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/we_have_always_lived_in_the_castle.jpg]]
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* SelfMadeOrphan: Constance lives with the accusation of this. [[spoiler: She's covering for Merricat.]]
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open spoiler
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[[spoiler: * AxCrazy: Merricat. Killing almost your entire family over being sent to your room is not a sign of mental stability.]]
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* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: * AxCrazy: Merricat. Killing almost your entire family over being sent to your room is not a sign of mental stability.]]
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open spoiler
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* AxCrazy: Merricat. Killing almost your entire family over being sent to your room is not a sign of mental stability.
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[[spoiler: * AxCrazy: Merricat. Killing almost your entire family over being sent to your room is not a sign of mental stability.]]
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* AxCrazy: Merricat. Killing almost your entire family over being sent to your room is not a sign of mental stability.
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* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: At the end of the novel, golden-haired, pink-cheeked Constance must forever wear her pink dress, while her changeling, forest-child sister Merricat is stuck wearing brown.
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* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: At the end of the novel, golden-haired, pink-cheeked ultra-feminine Constance must forever wear her pink dress, while her changeling, forest-child sister Merricat is stuck wearing brown.
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* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Mary Katherine and her sister Constance, respectively.
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* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Mary Katherine Merricat loves exploring the woods, hates baths, provides for the family (in the form of going out for supplies) and her sister Constance, respectively.is aggressive and demanding, while Constance is coded extremely feminine: cooking, cleaning, canning, gardening, wearing pink, and in general being gentle and nurturing.
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While the correct name is "death cap," the actual quote is "deathcup."
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-->''My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cap mushroom. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Everyone else in my family is dead.]]''
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-->''My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cap deathcup mushroom. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick Everyone else in my family is dead.]]''
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* UnreliableNarrator: Merricat [[spoiler:When it's finally revealed that she killed her family, she tells her sister, not the readers]]
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----
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