How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Try to see," she said. "It's my own dear name, and it belongs to me, and something is using it and writing it and calling me with it and my own name…" She stopped and said, looking from one of them to another, even down onto Theodora's face looking up at her, "Look. There's only one of me, and it's all I've got. I hate seeing myself dissolve and slip and separate so that I'm living in one half, my mind, and I see the other half of me helpless and frantic and driven and I can't stop it […]" (5.172)
Eleanor fears losing her identity, here represented by her name. Maybe this has something to do with the fact that women in Western culture traditionally change or alter their name throughout their lives, such as when they get older or when they get married (Miss, Mrs., Ms.).
Quote #8
I will relinquish my possession of this self of mine, abdicate, give over willingly what I never wanted at all; whatever it wants of me it can have. (7.193)
Remember that last quote? Well, so much for that. Eleanor's desire for Hill House means she must give herself up to Hill House, name and all.
Quote #9
"It was going to happen sooner or later, in any case," Eleanor said. "But of course no matter when it happened it was going to be my fault." (8.68)
Western culture historically requires women to be the caregivers and nurturers of the home. The novel suggests that when this care fails blame is unfairly put on the woman. The fact that Eleanor's mother would eventually die was inevitable, which only underlines how unfair and ridiculous the blame game is here.