The Haunting of Hill House.

One of the many questions asked in lecture was “how is this text talking about family?” and many people in the lecture hall answered with similar responses such as “it is saying that the family you make is better than your biological family” or “the family you make are happier than your biological family”, but I would also like to add on my response. I agree with the responses above, but I also believe that family in the text should be observed in another perspective. I think the text is trying to say that the family you make may be happier or better, but at the end of everything your biological family will be there and you will return to them regardless. As we see in the beginning of the text Eleanor steals her sister’s car in order to travel to Hill House, Theodora leaves to Hill House after an argument with her friend, Luke was appointed to join Dr. Montague by his aunt, and Dr. Montague leaves Mrs. Montague to do research in Hill House. All the characters were introduced not only by their characteristics, but also by their families. As all the character created their own family during their stay in Hill House, at the very end of the story none of their family bonding seems to matter. After Eleanor was forced to go back to her biological family, her sister in this case, she drives herself into the oak tree and immediately kills herself leaving the family she made at Hill House. While the experiences the characters had in Hill House will be remembered, Theodora left Hill House and the family she created there to go back home where her friend, in this case we can assume her friend is considered her biological family because Theodora does not have any family history or last name listed in the text, is waiting for her as described at the end of the book. Luke as well returned home to his aunt and eventually travels to Paris while Dr. Montague returns home with Mrs. Montague and continues with their lives. Although the family they created in Hill House seems “better” or “happier” at the end of the text each of the characters were forced to or willingly rejoined their biological family. In conclusion to the observation of how the text includes family in the beginning of the text and at the end of the text I think the message about family is that although biological families may have conflicts and mistrust at the end of the journey, event, experience, or whatever else, a person will return to their biological family.