MovieChat Forums > The Haunting (1963) Discussion > Eleanor was an insufferable character.

Eleanor was an insufferable character.


Her stupid *beep* innocence, naivete, overdramatics, yuck. Awful, awful character. So annoying. The actress who played her did a terrible job, beyond irritating voice. I just want to strangle Eleanor!

oh, stigmas revealing our vices

reply

It seems that people in this thread are faulting Eleanor for taking care of her sick mother. I think it's admirable to put others before yourself and she should be praised for it. She should've had a little bit of help from time to time, though. While it was good of her to help her sick mother like she did, she shouldn't have had to do it alone and someone should've offered to help at least once. I felt sorry for her because she spent so many years taking care of her sick mother without asking for anything in return, yet when she was forced to live with her sister after her mother's death, she was treated terribly. Plus, because of her personality it seemed like she found it very difficult to relate to others. I just found her very relatable and likable.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

reply

I agree with you.

...............................
I didn't find the character "insufferable" at all. Yes, for moments I liked her and could understand her POV. And other times I didn't know how to interpret her outbursts. But that makes her a realistic character. Not all characters have to be LIKED. Not liked in the way many people like cute puppies. You can like a character because of her depth and complexity.
And because of her personality and background is easy to understand why she didn't want to leave the house. That makes the plot really interesting.

reply

Yes, she is: but that is how Jackson painted her in the novel. And Miss Julie Harris did an excellent job.

Ever since we said "I do", there are so many things we don't

reply

I felt nothing but pity and compassion for her.

reply

Hated the character, Harris did a great job making her that way. Obviously it is the intent to make her mentally disturbed person in s real haunted house.

reply

We were not supposed to adore the schizoid Eleanor and Julie Harris was precisely Shirley Jackson's heroine!

Even larks and katydids are, supposed by some, to dream

reply

I agree with the OP. I found her character very annoying. I wish someone on set had a large sock filled with manure...

reply

I think we all wanted to strangle her! 

reply

I thought Eleanor was a bit of a sad character

reply

She was very grating and annoying, yes. And could Theo have been more of a snotty *unt? The two male characters were each annoying in their own way too, the pretentious 'mansplainer' (sorry to use a b.s. SJW term, but he does fit the definition) and the guy from the Jets who hits us over the head with a hammer in every scene to remind us what a greedy scumbag he is. Not a likable character in the bunch.

reply

Yeah I'll admit she was a little obnoxious, what I don't get is why she spoke to her sister like a child throwing a temper tantrum and why she allowed her sister to speak to her as if she was a child.

reply