Alleson answers “I can't understand why Theodora...”

Γιάννης asked this question about The Haunting of Hill House:

I can't understand why Theodora inexplicably veers between kind and bitchy toward Eleanor. I can understand it at the end ( she might be jealous for Luke's interest for Eleanor or she does it on purpose because she doesn't want to take Eleanor to her home), but this odd behaviour is going on and on at the entire book. One minute is good with Eleanor and the next is full with irony, insults ?

Alleson I also want to add that, while it doesn't answer the question, Theo's mentioned to be telepathic and I wonder if she's able to read Eleanor's increasi…moreI also want to add that, while it doesn't answer the question, Theo's mentioned to be telepathic and I wonder if she's able to read Eleanor's increasingly unkind and unreliable inner monologues.

And can I say that mentioning Theo's telepathy and then never bringing it up again is, from a critical standpoint, genius. It adds an extra layer of "What is ACTUALLY happening?"(less)

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The Haunting of Hill House

by Shirley Jackson

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