The signal man begins in a dark railway trench, and the setting is described to be “ steeped in the glow of an angry sunset,” This sets the tone of the story by using something usually beautiful and relaxing as something that will intimidate and menace. “at the door of his box, with a flag in his hand, furled round its short pole,” This creates a picture in the mind of the reader and introducing the signal man to this tale. It is made apparent that the signal man does not trust the man the calling to him, this is apparent in his initial refusal to reply to the narrator.
In The signal man Dickens distrust of the railway, probably owing to the crash he was involved in, is made apparent by comments such as“a violent pulsation”. This is not just Dickens's resentful rantings about the railway but a clever literary trick to set the mood of the text and to put negative and frightening thoughts in to the head of the reader. The intended psychological setting of the story is made quite clear through the narrators voicing's about the railway trench as he enters it “I found a rough zigzag descending path notched out which I followed” and “left the natural world”. This suggests that the narrator has descended in to some sort of dark underworld because there is “so little sunlight” and that it is unnatural and ungodly.
The signal man's edginess and fear is apparent throughout the first meeting between him and the narrator “I detected in his eyes some latent fear of me.” . The signal man seems to have a deep distrust of the narrator as though he has been taunted or tricked by someone or something “ “ you look at me as if you had a dread of me”. “ i was doubtful,” he returned, “whether i had seen you before.” ” The narrator go's on to say that he had never been there before and says “you may swear” This makes it perfectly clear that there is something that reader is yet to find out that is deeply troubling the signal man .This distrust seems to be fuelled by the words first spoken between them “ Helloa below there”
During the ensuing conversation with the signal man in his signal box the signal man starts to relax more, The reader as well as the narrator is put at ease when entering the signal box “there was a fire, a desk for an official book in which he had to make certain entries” This tells the reader that this is any normal signal box. The fire cold be interpreted in several ways, one of which could back up the idea that the narrator has descended in to some kind of hell. But i have chosen to interpret it as a warm fire keeping the men warm and safe and providing some light source which would relax the narrator, signal man and reader. It is obvious that the men become more confident around each other by the conversation, the signal man tells the narrator many things he had done in his life, and the mistakes he had made “ gone down and never risen again”. This is referring to his failure as a student of natural philosophy and definitely a supporting reference to the idea that the signal box and railway trench is some kind of hell. The signal man is still constantly on edge even if less so, this is shown by his visits to the door to check the tunnel even when it appears the bell doesn't ring. This at first can be interpreted by the reader and the narrator as conscientiousness but later becomes apparent that this is not the case.
The tunnel is a key setting within the hellish atmosphere that dickens tries to create. The tunnel is the setting of every death in the story, it is conveyed as a dark and horrible place “saw the wet stains stealing down the walls.” The tunnel is also the place where the fiendish spector appears, warning of death and misfortune. The tunnel makes the reader uncomfortable and along with the spector scares, intimidates and intrigues the reader. The narrator mentions that the signal man might be mentally ill “shut up within narrow limits all his life” and the narrator asks him to seek medical help. But by the end of the story it is apparent that as well as the spector warning of two previous crashes it is also for telling the signal man's own death when he is hit by a train after seeing the spector. This leaves a question though, Is the spector warning the signal man of his death? Or is the spector the psychological killer of the signal man? This dramatic anti climax never allows the reader to relax even after the story has ended, leaving an effective permanent mystery as the story comes to no conclusion of what the spector is, real? Or a figment of the signal man's imagination as he pre-eminences his own death?
From the beginning of “The man with the twisted lip” Arthur Conan Doyle attempts to make the reader plunge in to a personal story of drug addiction, and the ruin of a man, or so it appears at least. This draws the reader in because already they have been familiarised with one of the main characters Isa Whitney. This opening paragraph is effectively used as a mini biography from the narrators opinion “some foolish freak.”
“and for many years he continued to be a slave to the drug” this extract is quite emotive and shows how he has been over taken and makes the reader feel empathy for Isa Whitney as they now feel familiar with him almost straight away.
The reader is further taken in by Isa Whitney's story during the introduction of his wife Kate Whitney “ he has not been home for two days . I am so frightened”. This is where the story changes from a sad, emotive and personal story to one of mystery and suspense.
A missing persons case has begun. Along with the introduction of Kate Whitney there is also the introduction of the narrator and the familiar to the reader Dr Watson. This familiarises the reader with the text as Watson is a recognized and liked character from the Sherlock Holmes series.
Watson sets of to find Isa where he thinks he might be found. The opium den. The setting of the opium den sucks the reader in because This is a dark , dangerous place and an integral part of the London underground scene in the late 1800's that makes the reader feel as though they are having a glimpse in to a whole different world. Doyle actively emphasizes as well as repeating the word “strange” to convey to the reader that this world or “cave” is completely foreign to him and that he does not like the surroundings that he has found himself in or feels comfortable in them. “A steep flight of stairs leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave” are the words used top describe the opium den. This is a clever use of a simile, comparing the den to some kind of hellish underworld much like the description of the trench in the signal man.
It is now we are introduced to Sherlock Holmes, The main man as such in this series of books and this story. Watson finds him Sat on the floor of the opium den and Holmes reveals that he is apparently undercover “ I am in the midst of a very remarkable enquiry.” This further draws the reader in, because at first the reader has no idea why Holmes is there and can only guess at that he must have been overcome by opium, but it becomes apparent that Holmes has a story to tell and that he is “ in the midst” of something special and very interesting. This creates suspense and further mystery for the reader wanting to know exactly why Holmes is their and the nature of his enquiry.
This is also where it becomes apparent that Isa Whitney is not the subject of the enquiry and he is sent home in a cab. This provided a handy twist that further encapsulates the reader in to the story, creating a whole new mystery story not letting the readers mind rest. This is the introduction of the missing persons and murder case of Mr Neville St. Clair.
The introduction of a prison cell to this tale complements the dark and devilish atmosphere created by Doyle in the opium den. With the added introduction of the apparent murderer and beggar “ The man with the twisted lip.” The reader feels as though everything is coming to an end and that they can start to relax, but no. This is where the entire story is turned on its head and it is revealed that this man is in fact Mr Neville St. Clair in disguise, the very man he had been arrested for murdering. This twist in the tale entertains the reader as well as bringing an exciting end to the story. Throughout Doyle has effectively used the raging underground crime scene in London at the time to his advantage, playing on the anxiety's, fears and imaginations of 18th century Londoners.
In “The red room” The entire story is written in a first person narrative, This effect encourages the reader to feel not only as if they know the narrator but also that hey are in the room with the narrator experiencing his experiences and feeling his emotions. This technique is used to immerse the reader in to the depths of the text.
Within the first four lines of the story a supernatural mystery is beginning to unravel. “eight and twenty years .” said I, “ I have lived, and never a ghost have i seen yet.” This is almost a challenge to the residents of the house to proof there is such a thing as ghosts. This challenge is used to excite the reader in to reading on but plays on the the fact that Victorians were still embroiled in a superstitious and religious culture, half way between modern science and ancient superstition as earlier mentioned.
“This night of all nights!” and “You go alone,” suggests that there are deeper perils than what the man expects, the woman effectively saying that he cant count on them because he's made his own bed and has to lie in it. This suggests to the reader that many dangers lie ahead for the man. This entices the reader due to the promise of excitement, the supernatural and the revealing of the true nature of the haunting, as well as causing apprehension amongst the books audience.
The setting is not set till relatively late only being stated about half way through. Doyle creates suspense here by leaving the reader in the dark on the setting almost forcing them to read on to find out. “The great red room of Lorraine castle” the use of the word great suggest that something big has happened in this room creating a foreboding atmosphere.
The rooms name is the red room, this suggest something evil and hellish, red being associated with fire and fire with the devil, this bares resemblance to the other stories as well as making it clear that this room is not a good place. The use of the setting of the castle is key to the haunted and mysterious atmosphere Wells is trying to create. During Victorian times there was giant revival of Gothic interest called neo- Gothicism this was reflected in much architecture of the time and many novels. This makes the castle an ideal setting intriguing the reader and playing further on suspicions and ideas such as castles are haunted.
During the night that the main character spends in the room he experiences many different supernatural occurrences. At one point the narrator is left completely in the dark in a struggle to keep ever going out candles alight. This plays on a key part of the human condition fear of the dark and fear of fear itself. to show the narrators fear is beginning to overcome his able mind, regardless of how much he attempts to not let the situation bother him – “speaking with a half hysterical facetiousness” it is obvious he is overcome with fright.
“The worst of all things that haunt poor mortal man and that is, in all its nakedness – Fear!” At the end of the story it becomes apparent to the narrator that there was nothing in the room at all except his own fear and insecurities.
Throughout “The red room” There is never once a reference to a reference to any time period or any object that could be associated with a certain time. This creates and almost timeless quality to the story, adding to the mystery, because you never find out when it is set. Therefore never being able to completely identify with the main characters personal identity, because you do not know what time frame he is from, so never being able to clearly know exactly what type of man he is. Although in contrast this story is all about fear and the human mind which do not need a time to be identified with or understood, giving this story an ingenious timelessness.
The signal man, The red room and The Man With the twisted lip are each stories telling very different and separate tales but all spawn from the same route. Man's natural curiosity of mystery, the misunderstood and the not understood. All of these story's have Dark connotations throughout referring to experiences of descending in to hell “A steep flight of stairs leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave” leading to the readers mind “leaving the natural world.” or referring to being in hell itself. Whether it be a man made trench of death from “ the signal man,” a self induced hell hole of ruin and addiction from “ the man with the twisted lip” or a natural hell that sprouts out of a man's own fear from “the red room.”
Each of these stories is written in a first person narrative, This effect encourages the reader to feel not only as if they know the narrators but also that hey are in the exactly the same place as the narrator experiencing his life and everything that happens to them and feeling their emotions just as they do. This technique is used to immerse the reader in to the depths of each text, always including the reader with great effect in to the story.
There is heavy use of imagery in all of these stories, playing an integral part of setting the scene. Whether it be thermal or light all are well backed up and complemented by clever use of adjectives. “‘Its germinating darkness,” from the red room describes a darkness spreading and growing almost sprouting in to life in the room. Thermal imagery is used in the signal man “there was fire,” although this may not seem so obvious i believe that it show that the signal man's box was warm and safe compared to its harsh surroundings.
Geography can sometimes be extremely important to a story, such as in the “ the man with a twisted lip” where it is important that the reader knows that the story is set in London mentioning areas such as “East of London Bridge” because of the social atmosphere at the time, and the high levels of crime in London, sherlock holmes provided some kind of hope. But in contrast It is not important to know exactly were in the country a story of supernatural mystery happens. In “the signal man” the only crucial facts are that The story is set in a railway trench and in the country were the narrator comes as it seems on holiday. This probably provides more mystery to the story as it makes the setting seem remote and like anything could happen and probably go un listened to or unnoticed. In “the red room” all that the reader needs to know is that the story is set in a castle with a haunted room. There is no need to know the location because it bares no relevance to the tale what so ever because there is no part of the story that ventures from the castle. All three stories are perfect examples of a variety of Victorian tales of mystery and suspense perfectly showcasing what made them attractive to the Victorian audience.
