We Have Always Lived in the Castle

by

Shirley Jackson

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Always Lived in the Castle makes teaching easy.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle Symbols

Food

Food acts as a symbol of power in this book. When Merricat felt ignored and disrespected by her family, she used food to destroy them. Now, even people who say they’re the sisters’ friends hesitate…

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The Moon

The moon represents Merricat’s ideal life. She often daydreams about flying to the moon on a winged horse to get away from the parts of her life that she doesn’t like, such as her…

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The Safe

Constance and Merricat keep most of their money in their father’s safe, which sits in his study. Their father was very good at managing money, and Charles, like their father, fixates on the safe…

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