For this analysis, I chose “The Novelist Disguised as a Housewife,” excerpt from Ruth Franklin’s biography of Shirley Jackson.
Voices, in order of their inclusion in the article, are as follows:
- Shirley Jackson herself (subject), in reply to the question of her occupation, which she stated as “writer,” and at other points in the piece such as in a letter to her parents, letter to a friend, and her thoughts in general about squeezing in writing time while presenting herself as just a mother and housewife with a penchant for writing.
- The hospital clerk (local community) who determined that a more acceptable response than “writer” would be housewife.
- The characters she created in cartoons (fictitious extension of subject’s imagination), such as an onlooker to a woman dragging her husband by the hair. “I understand she’s trying to have both a marriage and career,” the cartoon character says.
- The wife of a writer (closely involved with subject) who was said to have been incredulous that a writer would “allow” his wife to have a child.
- Midge Decter, friend (closely involved) and later editor, who commented that “it was the men who needed looking after … They had many demands.” She also noted that having kids was “not part of the bohemian life.”
- Jackson’s husband (Hyman) as depicted in her cartoons, being detached from demands and needs of family and instead expecting to be served.
- Hyman in his own words (closely involved with subject) about having kids, “Bring ‘em to me when they can read and write,” and with regard to his own needs, “I did three paragraphs at once and it tired me out.”
- Two year old son describing Daddy as “man who sits in chair reading.”
- Spock (national figure), words taken from his child-care manual
- Her children who described aspects of their upbringing; their third child, Sarah, who said, “She was afraid she would lose us,” as explanation for Jackson keeping them in her watchful eye; her son, Laurence, who recalled her quirky, playful ways.
- Friend of daughter, Sarah, who recalled that Jackson could be a tough disciplinarian
- Another writer, Alice Munro (likely a friend of Jackson’s) who spoke of having the same constraints on writing time that Jackson experienced.
- Kit Foster, a friend (closely involved) who recalled Jackson leaving a game of Monopoly to write a short story.
- Betty Friedan, feminist writer (national figure), who saw Jackson as selling herself (and by extension, other women) short, by making it seem as though she was dashing off her literary pieces between her household chores.
- General admiring tone of fan mail received (generalized others as fans).
There are many voices present in this short piece, giving us a rich picture of the life and persona of Shirley Jackson as well as the context of the times. Interesting reading … and eye-opening to see the number of voices that are included and how they are all woven together!