22 pages • 44 minutes read
A Haunted House
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Doors
Doors symbolize the uneasy boundary between dreams and reality in the text. They frequently open and close, and it is never clear who has moved them or whether they move on their own. A “door shutting” is the first concrete image in the story, creating a haunting sound that awakens the narrator and immediately brings into question whether they are asleep or fully awake. This is followed by two references to doors being open. Since doors allows people through a boundary, these open doors highlight the ghosts and the narrator’s ability to traverse subjective and objective reality and dwell in their own experiences even while surrounded by the materiality of the house. Doors slam shut again near the end when the ghosts find the sleeping couple and reminisce on the happy times in their life, echoing the sense that these times in their lives are over. However, they stand in the “doorway” of the bedroom while watching the sleeping couple, suggesting that they stand on the threshold of dreams and reality and hold onto their hope of reliving their love.
Glass
In the short story, glass is a significant motif with a double meaning. The first meaning (or use) of glass is to amplify a deeper view of something that is hidden or small. In this sense, glass appears like death to the narrator, and the glass allows the narrator to see that there is an other-worldly presence lurking about in the house. This association with glass has its roots in older ghost stories of previous centuries, such as those written by the German author E. T. A. Hoffmann, for whom eyeglasses and glass lenses allowed a vision to the supernatural world. However, the glass in Virginia Woolf’s story also play the opposite role. It diffuses and reflects the light that comes from outside, from the gardens, and into the house. Such a diffusion enhances the feeling of isolation of the house, which translates into a feeling of loss. The glass of windowpanes reflects the green hue of the tree leaves outside, making them appear intangible.
“Safe, safe, safe”
This line repeats several times in the short story to the point of becoming a motif. Since it denotes the “pulse” in the house, it is the only sense of linear movement in the story. While time is ambiguous in the text, this pulse beats steadily. It therefore suggests the inevitability of loss as time passes. The house is the only thing that remains consistent while its inhabitants come and go. However, the mantra actually counters the melancholic tone of the story. The word “safe” both suggests an absence of danger but also refers to the practice of keeping precious things locked away in a “safe” ready to find again.
Unlock all 22 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Related Titles
By Virginia Woolf
