We Have Always Lived in the Castle is the surreal story of teenage Merricat and her older sister Constance, who live with their aging uncle in a mansion on the outskirts of a small town. Years earlier, the rest of their family was poisoned, and most people think Constance is responsible; consequently, the sisters are shunned and do their best to avoid society. However, when their cousin Charles comes to town, Merricat fears that everything may change. This novel explores the themes of family, isolation, and otherness.