The Shunned House Informative Summary

Overview:

This tale delves into the dark history of a house in Providence, Rhode Island, known as “the shunned house.” The narrator, fascinated by its sinister reputation, uncovers a chronicle of death and illness that plagued the house’s inhabitants over generations. He learns of a French family, the Roulets, who were forced to leave the town after a riot, and their possible connection to the supernatural occurrences. The narrator’s persistent investigations and his uncle’s morbid curiosity lead them to a shocking discovery – a creature of unknown origin and terrifying powers that thrives on the life force of its victims. This creature, a manifestation of the Roulet’s hatred and malice, has been feeding on the inhabitants of the house for centuries.

The narrator and his uncle, armed with scientific instruments, conduct a terrifying vigil in the house’s cellar, attempting to expose and destroy the entity. The horror they witness is almost unimaginable, as the creature, a vaporous, gelatinous mass, attacks the uncle, transforming him into a grotesque amalgamation of faces and monstrous forms. Driven by a primal fear, the narrator flees the house, but returns in the morning to face the evil he has witnessed.

Key Findings:

• The house was cursed by a creature of unknown origin.
• The creature was connected to the Roulet family and their past.
• The creature fed on the life force of its victims.
• The creature was not susceptible to normal scientific methods of destruction.

Learning:

• The unknown: The text highlights the limitations of human knowledge and understanding when confronted with the inexplicable. Despite scientific advancements, the world holds mysteries and phenomena that defy logical explanation.
• The power of place: The story emphasizes the idea that places can hold a history of evil, with negative energy that persists long after the original source of the evil has vanished.
• The persistence of hatred: The creature is a tangible manifestation of hatred and malice, proving how these emotions can linger and take on a life of their own, continuing to inflict harm long after their initial cause is gone.
• The price of knowledge: The narrator’s pursuit of truth leads him to face unimaginable terror. The text suggests that some knowledge is best left unacquired, as it can lead to consequences that are far more devastating than ignorance.

Historical Context:

The story is set in the 18th and 19th centuries, a time when superstition and folklore played a significant role in people’s lives. The historical context of the story is shaped by the events of the American Revolution, the yellow fever epidemic of 1797, and the War of 1812. These historical events provide a backdrop against which the supernatural occurrences in the house appear even more disturbing and unsettling.

Facts:

1. The shunned house was built in 1763 by William Harris. The house was built on a site previously used as a graveyard.
2. William Harris was a merchant and seaman involved in the West India trade. His travels to Martinique exposed him to the tropical climate, which later contributed to his illness.
3. Several members of the Harris family died young in the house. The first deaths occurred in 1764 when Abigail and Ruth Harris, aged 7 and 5, succumbed to an unknown fever.
4. The family experienced a series of misfortunes, including the stillbirth of a child. This series of events led to a growing sense of dread associated with the house.
5. Rhoby Harris, William’s wife, became insane. Her ravings and cries about a “biting presence” fueled local legends about the house.
6. William Harris left the house after the death of his wife in 1773. He attributed the illnesses and deaths to the house’s unhealthy nature.
7. The house remained vacant for a time, but was eventually rented out again. Despite multiple deaths and illnesses, the house remained in the Harris family’s possession.
8. The town council ordered the house to be fumigated in 1804. This was done in response to the deaths of four individuals attributed to a fever epidemic.
9. The house was plagued by a recurring pattern of deaths and illnesses. This was despite the house being fumigated and attempts to change tenants.
10. The death certificates of the fever victims in 1804 showed a lack of blood. This fueled the rumors about the vampire-like nature of the house’s evil.
11. In 1815 and 1845, dying individuals were documented as having glassy eyes and attempting to bite those near them. These incidents further heightened the sense of dread associated with the house.
12. In 1860 and 1861, the house’s last tenants suffered from a series of anemia deaths preceded by madness. These victims, despite being uneducated, would babble in French, evoking the French history of the house.
13. The narrator learns that the Roulet family, of French origin, had once owned the property. They had their own graveyard on the site where the house now stands.
14. Etienne Roulet, a French settler in Providence, was granted a clerical post in a warehouse. This indicates his role in the community despite facing initial prejudice.
15. The Roulet family was expelled from Providence after a riot. This event is shrouded in mystery, adding to the dark legend surrounding the house.
16. Paul Roulet, Etienne’s son, was known for his erratic behavior and questionable prayers. His actions were considered suspicious by the community.
17. The narrator discovers a historical record of a Jacques Roulet from Caude, who was condemned for demonic behavior. This connection to the Roulet family adds a terrifying layer to the legend.
18. The narrator investigates the cellar of the house, finding evidence of strange, almost human shapes in the mold and tree roots. He also experiences a strange, shimmering vapor rising from the floor.
19. The narrator and his uncle decide to conduct a vigil in the cellar to confront the evil presence. They arm themselves with scientific instruments to combat the unknown.
20. The narrator’s uncle dies in the cellar, transformed into a horrifying amalgamation of faces and monstrous forms. This is a confirmation of the creature’s power and the terror it unleashes.

Statistics:

1. The Harris family experienced seven deaths within a five-year period. This dramatic increase in death within such a short timeframe sparked local rumors about the house’s ill-fate.
2. The house was vacant for over 60 years before it was rented again. This prolonged period of vacancy is a testament to the house’s reputation and the reluctance of people to live there.
3. The house remained in the Harris family’s possession for over a century. Despite the numerous deaths and illnesses, the family seemed to be bound to the house, unable to escape its curse.
4. In 1804, four deaths occurred in the house during a fever epidemic. This incident led to the town council ordering the house to be fumigated.
5. The house was built in 1763 and remained standing until the 20th century. This long lifespan, despite its tragic history, underscores the house’s physical resilience and the enduring nature of the evil presence it held.
6. The Roulet family arrived in Providence in 1696. Their arrival marked a turning point for the property that would eventually become the shunned house.
7. The Roulet family was expelled from Providence approximately forty years after their arrival. This suggests a significant period of time during which their presence in the community was accepted before the riot that led to their expulsion.
8. The narrator and his uncle spent the night in the cellar, attempting to confront the entity. This signifies their determination to uncover the truth and confront the evil presence in the house.
9. The narrator emptied six carboys of sulfuric acid into the hole he dug in the cellar. The sheer volume of the acid used to combat the creature underscores the scale of the threat it posed.

Terms:

1. Huguenots: French Protestants who fled religious persecution in the 17th century.
2. Edict of Nantes: A royal decree issued in 1598 by Henry IV of France, granting religious tolerance to Protestants. Its revocation in 1685 led to the persecution of Huguenots.
3. Privateersmen: Private citizens who were commissioned by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime.
4. Anthropomorphic: Having human form or characteristics.
5. Crookes tube: A glass tube containing a gas at low pressure, used to study the properties of cathode rays and X-rays.
6. Flame-throwers: A military weapon that shoots a stream of fire.
7. Ether radiations: A type of electromagnetic radiation.
8. Relativity: The theory developed by Albert Einstein, which revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and gravity.
9. Intra-atomic action: Interactions within the nucleus of an atom.
10. Emanation: Something that flows out or radiates from a source.

Examples:

1. Rhoby Harris, the original owner’s wife, became insane. Her ravings about a biting, glassy-eyed presence fueled local legends about the house.
2. The death certificates of the fever victims in 1804 showed a lack of blood. This contributed to the belief that the house was haunted by a vampire-like entity.
3. In 1815 and 1845, dying individuals were documented as having glassy eyes and attempting to bite those near them. These incidents provided further evidence for the presence of a supernatural force in the house.
4. The story of Jacques Roulet, a demoniac condemned for his crimes, is introduced to highlight the dark history of the Roulet family. This connection to the Roulets reinforces the suspicion that the evil in the house is connected to them.
5. The narrator’s uncle experiences a disturbing dream about a shifting house with the faces of the Harris family. This dream foreshadows the horrifying events that unfold in the cellar.
6. The narrator encounters a strange vapor rising from the floor of the cellar. This vapor is a tangible manifestation of the creature’s presence and power.
7. The narrator uses a Crookes tube and flamethrowers to combat the creature. The scientific instruments he uses symbolize the clash between human rationality and the supernatural.
8. The creature attacks the narrator’s uncle, transforming him into a horrific, melting entity. This exemplifies the creature’s power to manipulate and corrupt living beings.
9. The narrator empties six carboys of sulfuric acid into the hole he dug in the cellar, destroying the creature. This desperate act represents the final battle against the evil that has plagued the house for generations.
10. The narrator observes a change in the house after destroying the creature. The fetid air clears, the fungi wither, and the garden starts to produce healthy vegetation.

Conclusion:

“The Shunned House” is a chilling tale of a haunting that transcends the limitations of traditional ghost stories. The evil in the house is not a simple ghost or poltergeist, but a creature of unknown origin and terrifying power. The story explores the dark history of the house, tracing its lineage back to the French Roulet family and their mysterious expulsion from Providence. The horrifying events in the cellar, where the narrator witnesses his uncle’s demise and the destruction of the creature, reveal the true nature of the house’s haunting and the terrifying consequences of seeking knowledge about the unknown. The story’s chilling conclusion suggests that some secrets are best left undisturbed, as they hold the power to destroy everything we hold dear.

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