We Have Always Lived in the Castle society & value guide
Village gossip makes reputation law, and “the people of the village” act as judges. Their distrust pushes Merricat towards secrecy, Constance towards withdrawal, and the family towards conflict with a community that values appearances over understanding.
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If a community decides that a family is dangerous, can anyone escape the label when “the people of the village” watch, gossip and judge ordinary actions? Merricat fears the crowd, yet she judges it too, so where does public respectability really place power: with the people who spread the story, or with the family that refuses to answer?
The full We Have Always Lived in the Castle guide brings together scenes, characters, themes, and verified quotations.
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