Character, especially Eleanor's, becomes the key element for comprehending The Haunting of Hill House . She becomes the central focus of Hill House. Eleanor, from the beginning of her journey to Hill House, seems to be seeking a home, a safe domestic space, where she will belong. Eleanor's relationship to other people, like her relationship to the domestic space of the house, is also problematic. Before that, she nursed and was bullied by her mother.
Love is also a problem.
She rejects Luke as an object for affection, though in some ways she seems to think she should be interested in him. It is her relationship to women that seems to fan her desire. In many respects, she needs the companionship of women far more than she wants the love of men. She finds Luke pathetically self-centered, focusing instead on Theodora. She quickly develops a crush on Theodora, acting like a young girl having her first romance.