Jackson's ability to create a sense of unease in ordinary settings. In 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle', the Blackwood house seems like a normal place on the surface, but as you read, you feel this underlying dread. She shows that horror can be anywhere, not just in spooky castles or graveyards.
The themes she explored in the 1948 short story might be what makes it unique. Maybe she delved into psychological aspects that were not commonly addressed at that time. For instance, she could have explored the inner workings of the human mind in a situation of fear or confusion, which gives the story a depth that is not easily found elsewhere.
Her unique writing style. Shirley Jackson has a way of creating an atmosphere that is both ordinary and yet filled with a sense of impending doom. For example, in 'The Lottery', she starts with a normal village scene but gradually reveals the horror beneath.
One of the most well - known is 'The Haunting of Hill House'. It's a classic that creates a really spooky atmosphere. The story follows a group of people who go to investigate the supposedly haunted Hill House, and the psychological horror is what makes it so great.
Complex characters. In 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle', the sisters are not simple characters. Their quirks and the secrets they hold add depth to the story. Also, the unique themes that Shirley Jackson often tackles, like isolation and the power of the past in this story, contribute to making it a great one.
The unexpected violence at the end makes it a horror story. The lottery, which seems like a normal event at first, turns out to have a deadly consequence. It's a shock to the readers when the so - called 'winner' is stoned to death.
Some of Shirley Jackson's well-known short stories include 'The Lottery' and 'Charles'.
'The Haunting of Hill House' is also among her best. It's a classic in the horror genre. The story builds a terrifying atmosphere as the characters explore the haunted Hill House. Jackson's descriptions of the house and the psychological states of the characters make it a truly gripping read.
Shirley Jackson creates suspense by withholding information. In 'The Haunting of Hill House', she doesn't immediately tell the readers what exactly is haunting the house. She gives small hints and strange occurrences, which keeps the readers guessing. Also, her use of unreliable narrators, like in some of her other stories, adds to the suspense. We are never quite sure if what the narrator is telling us is the whole truth or if there are hidden secrets they are unaware of or deliberately hiding.
The way Seth tells the stories might be what makes them unique. He could have a special narrative style, like using a lot of vivid descriptions that really bring the ghosts to life. Also, if he includes unique elements in the stories such as special powers of the ghosts or different ways of how people perceive them, that would make the stories different from others in the genre.
One thing that could make '83 ghost stories' unique is the number itself. Maybe there's a significance to having exactly 83 stories. It could also be unique in terms of the variety of ghosts it features. Perhaps there are some really rare or unusual types of ghosts in these stories that you don't often find in other collections.