But then, he realises afterwards that all that was scaring him in the Red Room was fear itself.
Although Wells may not have been doing this deliberately, he seems to be trying to convince people that science is the truth, by taking a supernatural scenario, explaining and demystifying it. Using this method of twisting the story until the end might have helped convince some readers at the time of publication.
Because it seems, until the very end, that superstition has won, the final twist of reminding the reader that, convincing as it may seem, the ‘haunted room’ wasn’t haunted, could have made readers recognise that some very believable irrationalities are, in fact, untrue.
At the time this story was written, many new studies of science were just appearing. For example Charles Darwin’s famous book, On The Origin Of Species was published in 1859, 35 years before The Red Room. A lot of people who would have been deeply religious were becoming much more aware of science. Because of this, there was fierce conflict between science and religion.
H. G. Wells seemed to be contributing to the rise in science, by trying to persuade readers that ghosts do not exist. However, a more subtle technique is used, when there are certain aspects of the story which aren’t fully explained. For example, when the fire in the Red Room goes out, could a draught possibly have caused it? This is not explained, and in leaving the reader at a loose end like this, the author seems to be admitting that science can explain nearly everything, but not quite. This could have helped some readers accept that both science and religion could be true at the same time, contributing to a more modern way of thinking which often regards them as complementary, rather than strict alternatives.
Wells might have only wanted to ‘convert’ people because he knew no other way to write stories, or it might be because this is his deepest belief and he felt the need to spread the wonders of science further.
Whatever the reason, the narrator’s changing character helps create an interesting and exciting story, which would have been a reason it was so popular. The language in The Red Room was carefully selected to convey this contrasting and mixed-up character.
In A Vendetta, there is a similar confusion and controversy around the characters, because the reader is left partly at a loss as to which character’s ‘side’ they should be on.
In the introduction, words like “alone” and “desolate” signify that the widow is lonely and to be pitied. Quotes such as “treacherously” and “forgotten” give the impression that the murder was completely unjustified, so at this point, the reader would seem certain that their loyalty should lie with the widow Saverini.
But towards the climax of the story, when the dog attacks Nicolas and the widow seems callous and evil, the reader is manipulated into feeling sorry for Nicolas, the murderer.
The final sentence in the story, “she slept soundly”, returns to being loyal to the widow, and pitying her stress up to this day.
When the story was written, vendettas were usually carried out by young men in a seemingly heartless manner, and no question would be left as to the fact these men were the ones in the wrong. It is perfectly possible that the widow’s son and Nicolas were involved with these sorts of people, as Nicolas found it easy to betray and murder his friend.
In writing the story using language that contrasts against itself, and twisting the reader’s loyalties, Guy De Maupassant creates a controversy over these character’s situations, which would have attracted readers to the story. The title of the story ‘A Vendetta’, could have implied a straightforward revenge story, so many readers could have expected a simple, violent story. However, the actual plot was intended to be much more complicated.
Both of these stories use confusion and unpredictability to keep readers interested. In The Red Room, the author appears to be using these techniques to impress his views on science upon the reader. When the story was written, science was becoming more popular, but most people were still firmly religious.
In A Vendetta, the author seems to have less of a personal reason for causing this type of controversy. Where H. G. Wells seemed to want to convince people science was the truth for his own reasons, Guy De Maupassant appears to be using the techniques simply to create an exciting and interesting story. At the very end, when the reader is manipulated into feeling glad that the widow is finally relieved after her vengeance, the author causes a strange effect, which the reader may not even notice. At the start, the reader feels sorry for the widow Saverini because her son was murdered. By the end, the reader has been twisted back into feeling sorry for the widow, despite the fact she just committed a brutal murder. This strange effect is created purely using the language in the story. At the start, words like “alone” turn the reader’s loyalty to the widow. Her quote “at him!” makes her seem evil, but the last sentence in the story “she slept soundly” twists the reader back again. The effect causes the reader to approve of the very same act at the end of the story, which caused them to feel sorry for the widow at the start. The fact her son was murdered means that the reader pities her, and this means that when she commits the murder, the reader is glad for her.
Both the stories use misdirection techniques to manipulate their audiences into believing something they wouldn’t usually. The author of The Red Room seems to be doing it for his own personal reasons, and uses techniques which are explained fully, but which still scare the reader. Guy De Maupassant appears to confuse the reader openly, just to create controversy and interest around the story, but uses techniques which are more subtle and unnoticeable. This method of confusing the reader, and even changing their own personal opinions, helps towards an exciting and interesting story.
In both stories, the atmosphere and setting contrast with each other a lot. The authors of both stories would have used the clash to create controversy and attention over their stories. In A Vendetta, the setting creates the impression of a harsh and hostile environment using words like “gash”, while other factors in the description create the atmosphere of a pleasant and cosy situation. In The Red Room, a similar technique is used, except that the setting gives the feel of a comfortable place to be, but the atmosphere and tension between characters casts a more eerie and creepy notion.
In A Vendetta, the setting gives the impression of a very harsh place, barren and aggressive. The quote “bristling reefs” shows how the very landscape in which the story is set seems to be hostile to the reader. Using the word “bristling” seems to show that the landscape and wildlife in this place becomes aggressive and violent in merely being observed.
However, the atmosphere in this story gives the opposite impression, and signifies a pleasant situation for the main character. The quote “tiny cottage” gives the impression of a cosy, homely atmosphere, and the feeling of a small, comfortable community.
This gives the reader two different effects – a creepy, scary setting, and a pleasant, cosy atmosphere. They could find themselves trying to work out, perhaps subconsciously, which effect is foreshadowing the rest of the story.
This overlaying of cues conceals the main direction of the story from the reader until the very end of the story. This method of using unusual language to keep the reader guessing right through the story helps the reader stay interested, as they are not able to predict the ending. If the reader can easily predict the ending, they may get bored or lose interest in the story. Keeping them uncertain is a good method employed by Guy De Maupassant to keep his readers’ interest.
Another technique used by the author of A Vendetta to keep the reader guessing, is to create an introduction which in no way hints at the story to come. The long description in the introduction to A Vendetta could easily be the introduction to a pleasant and happy story. However, there are words in it which suggest at the grim outcome of the story, such as “gash” and “remorselessly”.
Similar techniques to this are used in The Red Room. The setting at the start of the story gives a cosy, comfortable feel, shown in the quotes “before the fire” and “with my glass”. The narrator described a pleasant place to be, with home comforts like a fire and a drink. But although the place being described sounds welcoming, the atmosphere produced by the thoughts and feeling of the narrator and characters actually gives a more eerie, creepy impression. Because the narrator was feeling apprehensive, he includes very small details such as “the door creaked”, which help to portray the tense atmosphere. The author uses the narrator in this way to heighten the tension for the reader.
These confusion tactics again help keep the reader interested in the story, and help make the story popular.
Both these stories mix up the techniques used in describing setting and atmosphere, and, although it might be expected to dull the overall effect of two grim and creepy stories by adding in strangely pleasant overtones, it actually creates a clever contrast, using words like “tiny cottage” in A Vendetta and “before the fire” in The Red Room, which emphasises the eerie atmosphere overall. For example, in The Red Room, the fact that the narrator lights the fire and fills the room with candles, seems to negate the ghostly atmosphere of the room, but in fact, when the candles and fire all go out, it makes the reader even more shocked that in such a comfortable setting, something so supernatural and terrifying could occur.
Likewise, A Vendetta has a dark and gruesome ending, and any pleasant effect created by the seemingly cosy community they live in, creates a stark contrast with the treachery and brutality between the inhabitants of the small town.
These two stories are very different, in plot, techniques and even length. However, both authors use similar contrast and misdirection techniques to create interest and excitement in the stories. In The Red Room, the characters are used to twist the story, and keep the reader guessing until the end as to what will happen. The atmosphere helps to foreshadow the terrifying climax, despite the setting contrasting this to give the impression of pleasant surroundings. A Vendetta uses similar methods with the characters, although instead of trying to change the reader’s opinions, like the H. G. Wells, Guy De Maupassant uses them to create controversy and shock around the characters’ actions and the reader’s feeling towards them. In A Vendetta, contrast techniques are used to convey a strangely cosy and comfortable atmosphere, with a close community, but the setting of the story, in such a hostile and aggressive environment, hints at the horrific end to the story. This method would cause the reader to be more shocked and surprised by the ending, because the atmosphere suggested such a pleasant situation.
Wells and De Maupassant used different techniques for different reasons. Both cleverly created contrast and uncertainty to keep readers interested and excited, attributes essential for successful stories.
