Shirley Jackson: The Woman Who Transformed Modern Horror
/Master of Unsettling Storytelling
Shirley Hardie Jackson was an American novelist and short-story writer best known for her work in the gothic, horror, and mystery genres. She was a pivotal author who helped reshape the landscape of modern horror fiction. Jackson dedicated two decades of her life to her writing career, rose to fame, and became a literary sensation. Throughout her life, she has composed six novels, two memoirs, and more than 200 short stories. Some of her most well-known works include her debut novel, The Road Through the Wall, the psychological horror classic The Haunting of Hill House, and the chilling dystopian short story “The Lottery”. Her wide collection of novels and stories offers mystery, intrigue, and fright, making her a master of unsettling storytelling and haunting narratives.
Early Life
Shirley Jackson was born on December 14, 1916, in San Francisco, and died on August 8, 1965, in North Bennington, Vermont, at the age of 48. She grew up in Burlingame, California with her parents and brother. Jackson’s relationship with her mother was strained, as her mother frequently criticized her, showed favouritism toward her brother, and blamed her for problems with her father. Throughout her childhood, Jackson had trouble making friends and fitting in with other children, spending most of her time writing in solitude. During her teenage years, her weight began to fluctuate leading to issues with confidence and self image that lasted throughout her life. Facing a difficult home life, an unhealthy relationship with her mother, social challenges, and personal insecurities, she turned to writing as an escape. Writing soon became her solace and a source of comfort.
shirley jackson photographed in 1940, Erich hartmann magnum photos
College and Career Start
After graduating high school in 1934, her family moved to Rochester, New York, where she attended the University of Rochester before transferring to Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, she joined the campus literary magazine, which published her first story “Janice” about a teenage girl’s suicide attempt. During her time with the magazine, she met fellow writer Stanley Edgar Hyman, who would later become her husband. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Jackson and Hyman moved to New York where they both began contributing to The New Yorker. They then went on to have four children and a house full of books, including a personal library of around 25,000 volumes.
Memorable Female Characters and Influences
Few writers capture female characters as vividly as Shirley Jackson. Her stories often feature strong, complex, and haunting female leads. They explore their struggles, fears, and inner lives, creating gripping tales that stick with readers for a long time. One of these characters is the protagonist of The Haunting of Hill House, Eleanor Vance. Eleanor arrives at Hill House seeking a place to belong, only to find herself in a haunted house that preys on her fears and vulnerabilities. She faces intense loneliness, fear, and a struggle to find her own identity. As her mental state deteriorates, the house’s influence on her grows, affecting her mind and emotions. Jackson used Eleanor’s feelings of entrapment to reflect how some women feel trapped in their home lives and family relationships. Eleanor Vance is a deeply relatable and realistic character, which in many ways, amplifies the horror, as readers witness her slow descent into madness.
Redefining Horror Through Women’s Stories
Shirley Jackson Photographed by Werner Wolff/Black Star, from Ryerson Image Centre
Shirley Jackson made a lasting mark in the horror genre with her talent for telling twisted stories that mix normal, everyday life with dark, spine-chilling themes. While she has had a major influence on the genre and remains widely read today, there was a time where Jackson’s work was often overlooked and dismissed by male literary critics, partly because her stories focused on women’s experiences. However, she successfully challenged these reviewers by creating deeply complex, relatable characters and crafting stories that linger long after reading. Shirley Jackson writes horror that is personal, psychological, and claustrophobic, making the fear feel inescapably close and real, which shows why her work is both powerful and empowering.
Areen Adi is a passionate Canadian writer, driven by creativity, curiosity, and a love for crafting stories. She is currently enrolled in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College, where she is strengthening her writing skills. Areen enjoys creative writing, focusing mainly on short stories and poetry, and hopes to one day publish her own book of poems. Some of her favourite things include sitting by the water, hanging out with her cat Kira, reading on her trusty kindle that never leaves her book bag, and sipping on addicting iced coffees. For Areen, the perfect day is a walk by the river with an iced coffee in one hand and an e-book in the other.