How do H.G. Wells and Susan Hill create tension in their stories ‘The Red Room’ and ‘Farthing House’?
How do H.G. Wells and Susan Hill create tension in their stories `The
Red Room' and `Farthing House'?
`The Red Room' by HG Wells and `Farthing House' by Susan Hill are two
ghost stories exploiting the cultural, social and historical aspects
of the gothic ghost story genre. Cleverly, both writers create
tension, to generate a sense of thrill and frission that engages the
reader emotionally. Coleridge called this the `willing suspension of
our disbelief' in that the reader's scepticism is set aside and we
allow the fictional ghost and its presence to entertain us. Though
`The Red Room' was written one hundred years before `Farthing House'
it feels more modern with its psychological emphasis whereas `Farthing
House' is more subtle in the way in which tension is created.
Both of the tales are classic examples of gothic stories
that have two very different outcomes of the ghost story genre. They
are both written in the first person narrative; `The Red Room'
emphasises on the psychological aspects of the narrator. Whereas
`Farthing House' experiments on the mental views of the narrator. As
she in `Farthing House' sounds confessional and scared of an
experience that she had suffered from before the story was wrote. The
first person narrative adds immediacy to the events as quickly as they
unfold. The intentional uncertainness and ambiguity of the narrator's
visit to the red room of Lorraine Castle is suggested in the assertion
that there is `black fear' in all of us. These ideas play with the
readers' preconceptions and their enjoyment of the story. Victorian
ghost stories emphasised the fear of a ghost whereas modern ghost
stories looks more within the mind and the how there is fear in us
all, whether it be darkness or the vision of a ghost. But there is one
main aim of all ghost stories, whether they are from the eighteenth
century or the present day, their intention is to entertain!
The arrogance of the young, sceptical narrator is emphasised in `The
Red Room' to create contrasts between the withered old personnel who
live within the castle and our brash raconteur. At the very opening of
the gothic story H.G Wells cleverly writes: ` I can assure you,' said
I, `that it would take a very tangible ghost to frighten me'. Only a
few lines below a contrast is made as one of the deformed replies to
his comment that `There's a many things to see when one's still eight
and twenty.' The old lady who didn't really speak much and had a
rather spooky tendency to her says this in a way subtly implying that
something will happen to him. What HG Wells has done is to make a
contrast between the young and old, where the young are still very
vulnerable compared to the more experienced, who say that when one is
only twenty eight years of age he has ` A many thing to see and sorrow
for' meaning that there is a first time for everything. This is all
done within the first two paragraphs and engages the reader through
dialogue and atmosphere created from it. However `Farthing House'
opens very differently, as it is written in a letter form to her
daughter who is pregnant which is later discovered as a link in the
story, this is done by the use of little hints and clever dialogue
which help us to establish these links and understand what the story
is portraying as the pages progress: `And that terrible melancholy
came over me once again'. This is one of the links that is used a few
times from start to finish to make the story more realistic and give
depth to the tale. The main character as that in `The Red Room' are
the storytellers who themselves create the most tension by the way in
which they use emotive language and the way they describe their
surroundings and create atmosphere. If the ghost story were written
without the presence of a narrator the stories would be dull and
dreary. The use of characters in both of these stories are vital to
the quality and entertainment to the reader as they add a sense of
immediacy by their first hand evidential truth and the narrators
emotions during the time. Both stories show rises and falls in the
story that quicken the pace and frighten the reader ` I felt something
else and it made me hesitate before ringing the bell' and the peak of
her being scared is reached by the narrator that `My hands trembled so
much that twice I missed the matchbox'. In `Farthing House' the timid
narrator is never really relieved from her traumatised ways until the
very end. She is very conscientious and lets her emotions get the
better of her at many times in the story. For instance she observes:
`Something else was not as I had expected'. She shows signs of
ambiguity as she blames the television for what she has just heard of
the baby and is at times unwilling to accept the truth that lays in
front of her. `The noise had come from the television then', but it is
very ironic that the paragraph prior to this she had seemed almost
certain it was definitely a baby crying but blames the television to
reassure herself as she finds it difficult to explain her feelings of
discomfort as she walks into Cedar Room and ` that feeling of unease
and ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
ambiguity as she blames the television for what she has just heard of
the baby and is at times unwilling to accept the truth that lays in
front of her. `The noise had come from the television then', but it is
very ironic that the paragraph prior to this she had seemed almost
certain it was definitely a baby crying but blames the television to
reassure herself as she finds it difficult to explain her feelings of
discomfort as she walks into Cedar Room and ` that feeling of unease
and melancholy passed over me like a shadow again'. The constant
flashbacks continue to add confusion to the story until the links,
such as the crying baby and Farthing House being a home for women with
children in the war, and also links to the stolen baby mentioned in
the newspaper which is all revealed later on, towards the end of the
tale. As in both stories the narrators are the main source of
information but there are no other main characters really for her to
be compared with in `Farthing House' as the only other person who
speaks a lot is Aunt Addy but she cannot be measured up to anyone else
as she is a minor character, so no contrasts are made in `Farthing
House' between characters. Apart from that Aunt Addy has no conception
of a ghost being present in Farthing house whereas the narrator is
quite spooked by the house and its contents. However there is more of
an atmospheric change both engaging and exciting the reader.
The surroundings, the shadows and the fear of the narrator
all create suspense and mystery for the reader to develop thoughts of
the ghost in their own mind. This is a sign of a quality ghost story.
The fear becomes overwhelming by the description and language of what
is around the characters and the way dark corners are more apparent
than they usually would be. `The Red Room' is a more traditional tale,
as it sticks to the stereotypical elements, such as the subterranean
corridors and dark corners that begin to scare the narrator causing a
rise in tension and the reader gains anxiousness. The story follows
quite a linear pattern where one event leads to another whereas in
terms of the structuring of the plot `Farthing House' leads the reader
round in circles until the end. In `The Red Room' tension is built up
quite slowly until there is peaks where the reader's emotions are
relieved. The pace is built up and the suspense really starts to grow
from the moment the narrator describes the passage leading to the red
room. He says: "The long, draughty, subterranean passage was chilly
and dusty". This is where the stereotypical elements of the ghost
story genre are most obvious. At this point in the story the confident
narrator begins to become frightened so much that he begins to notice
things `listening to a rustling that I fancy I heard'. This shows a
complete awareness of his surroundings and he thinks he hears a noise
in the distance, hence, `I fancied I heard'. The word `fancied'
suggests that the narrator is trying to reassure himself, as he wasn't
sure whether he really hears the noise or is paranoid. The reader
begins to ask questions; HG Wells does this deliberately as the events
unfold told through the first person narrative of the speaker. This is
where the tension is built up before a peak is reached. As the
narrator walks down the corridor the pace of the story quickens and
the suspense is held when he opens the door to the red room and
recalls the previous happenings, such as the death of the duke who had
`fallen headlong down the stairs, which I just ascended'. He discovers
all is normal apart from the apparent darkness. He lights candles to
reassure himself of the fear of these lurking dark corners. As the
tension is built the narrator shows his fears as he says ` I Layed my
revolver ready to hand' showing that he is scared, but `There was
nothing tangible there'. The setting is very clever as the red room is
theoretically based in the middle of nowhere and is in an ancient
castle, which is a typical setting for a Victorian gothic story. Other
stereotypical elements help to provide a sense of suspense and tension
as the narrator leaves for the room, when it is dark and mysterious.
Also there are other descriptions of the settings that give more depth
to the story. The descriptive quality reinforces the spooky
atmosphere, for instance when the narrator begins to lose his
confidence as he walks down the subterranean passage he says: ` The
white panelling and gave me the impression of some one crouching to
waylay me'. This means the statues he has been passing by have been
scaring him and giving him a sense of uneasiness. This is a clear sign
of uncertainty and starts to make the narrator feel uncomfortable and
wondering what is happening and if some creature will from beneath the
darkness. At the same time `Farthing House' creates a different
setting and contrasts between a picturesque village, the setting is
almost ordinary as the narrator describes: `I'd seen a jay and two
deer and once, like magic, a kingfisher'. `I'd had a sort of holiday
really'. This is when the narrator had stopped in the village and had
had a pot of tea and walked along the banks in the sunshine, it was
very normal, nothing abnormal could happen. Then she turned into a
`road narrowed to a single track, between trees'. This is where she
says `I began to feel nervous, anxious'. This makes the reader ask the
question why does she feel anxious? This is illogical reasoning by the
narrator considering the apparent normality of the place. At this
point in the story Susan Hill makes contrasts, the nice little
village, which she ate and walked in, and the coldness and creepiness
of `Farthing House' as `the car lights swept along a yew hedge, a lych
gate, caught the shoulder of a gravestone'. The gravestone suggests a
ghost story and adds that sense of spookiness to the place and
`Farthing House', it raises questions in the reader's head. The
creepiness of the gravestone shows the contrast between the village,
which was so ordinary and Aunt Addy's strange nursing home. The
setting of `Farthing House', an old Victorian house that seems to be
set outside the village beyond the fog, where nobody seems to travel.
These are the subtle stereotypical elements the story contains. The
thrill and frission that the setting shows is very effective by the
use of first person descriptive language. The house is never really
described too much just the links between the antiseptic smell and the
burning leaves. The house is of a Victorian variety as it is described
in little detail but does have a history that becomes apparent toward
the end of the story, when the narrator visits the graveyard. This is
where she is told that before, it was a retirement home, and the
sighting of the ghost becomes clear. There is more emphasis on Cedar
Room, which is in `Farthing House'. The narrator describes the room
whilst entering it: `I was in this large, high ceilinged room because
it was free, its previous occupant having recently died'. As in `The
Red Room' both of the narrators are staying inside a room where
someone had died and the only difference is that in Lorraine castle a
duke had died there hundreds of years before and the occupant of Cedar
Room had only recently died. The little church, cottages and graveyard
add a `spooky' effect to the story as the graveyard appears to be
overgrown and the church's `uncut morquette'. At this point of the
story where the story is coming to its closing stages the answers to
the questions raised previously in the story are explained and Susan
Hill does this through the description of the setting which helps the
reader to understand and feel the narrators' anxiety. The description
of the setting creates atmosphere and tension in both the stories.
The confidential and confessional tone of the opening sequence if
`Farthing House' captures the reader's curiosity and raises questions
about why she sounds so scared and timid and why `must she set it
down'. In terms of the plot this is very effective as it engages the
reader from the very beginning making it hard to put the story down
until the questions are answered, by the use of language and the
atmospheric setting in which Susan Hill has created. She does this to
engage the reader and entertain him with the confusion and abnormality
of the story. So this has been done extremely well by Susan Hill, as
it is the last three pages that answer the questions. The structure of
the story holds the suspense until the end where all the questions are
answered and the reader understands all the previous happenings. The
contrasts between the little, picturesque village and the canopy
leading up to `Farthing House' create tension and frission. However
this can only be done by the use of good, effective and descriptive
language. Both writers achieve this perfectly. `Farthing House' is
written in pre 1200 AD language although it was written after the red
room, which is quite ironic. The story by Hill adds a lot of depth by
the use of language, as there are links, which were made in the
opening of the story and established towards the end. The language
that she writes from the first person narrative gives a sense of
thrill by the description and the way in which it was written. These
links are created throughout the story for repetition and effect, for
instance: `And that terrible melancholy came over me once again'. When
the narrator begins the story she remembers: `I was burning the
leaves' and `I caught the smell of it' then she goes on to say `and in
a rush I remembered...' and that is how the story of her journey to
`Farthing House' is opened. This is very effective as it gives depth
to the story about the smells that she remembers from her tragic
experience. These links create atmosphere and the reader understands
why the smells were mentioned and it makes the reader feel like the
story is true more than `The Red Room' because the when the smell is
mentioned once again the reader feels he has some insight to the tale.
By the use of language writers can make anything come to life, both
stories, I feel do this and do it very well. They both create peaks
and troths in their stories raising and relieving the reader's
emotions. In `The Red Room' there is one major peak whereas in
`Farthing House' there are several. In `The Red Room' the main peak is
when the candles flames begin to go out until the narrator hits his
head and remembers no more: `Lifting up my voice, screamed with all my
might-once, twice, thrice'. And in `Farthing House' peaks and relieves
are reached more quickly than `The Red Room'. There are over three
peaks in the story creating tension in the reader then releasing the
suspense. This makes the story more enjoyable as scarcity is reached
more quickly, however, `The Red Room' is just as good as `Farthing
House' just takes a little longer but builds up tension more slowly
but very effectively with the use of language of the atmosphere the
surroundings and the narrators emotions feels real and adds insecurity
in the reader because of these gothic creatures of darkness. Susan
Hill and HG Wells do use irony to a certain extent, they use is
another form of creating tension within the reader and supply
atmosphere and depth to the story:
`I was as you might say, almost expecting to have a bad dream or to
see a ghost'. This is very ironic as it implies there is going to be a
ghost, which is unusual of a gothic tale. This was also done in `The
Red Room': `It will take a very tangible ghost to frighten me'. They
both are asking for a ghost, which is very forward and does begin to
create questions within the reader. There is also other ironic parts
to the stories, for example in `Farthing House' the narrator was
almost certain she heard a baby crying but she `Hesitated. Stopped'
and her view changed she was now almost certain the noise came from
the television. This is also done in `The Red Room' as he goes onto
say `I resolved to make a systematic examination of the place'. But
when in a ghost story would the narrator make a logical look around?
These ironic statements help to establish the story to reader and make
them two superb tales, with the use of the style and rhythm of the
stories. Also HG Wells expresses the tone and dialogue in a figurative
way with the help of the narrator. Every little point, I find, in `The
Red Room' is explained which helps build anxiety and a slow increase
of pace to the story. The use of repetition is very effective and
doesn't seemed to be use in Susan hill's story, this repetition gives
apprehension to the reader as the man with the withered arm says `It's
your own choosing'. This causes the reader to wonder what is going to
happen as the man repeats this phrase several times. The language in
which HG Wells uses is more modern than `Farthing House' with the use
of words such as `atavistic' and `custodians'. I feel both types of
language, either old or modern bring a sense of urgency and thrill to
the stories as long as they are used to a good effect. The uses of
similes by both writers add a sense of atmosphere and add to the
suspense and structure of the tales. In `The Red Room' they are used
again for excellent effect.
As `It was like a ragged storm cloud sweeping out of the stars'.
Susan Hill also uses contrasts but in a longer form to `The Red Room'
as she contradicts herself when the narrator says: `The only other
thing I noticed was the faintest smell of hospital antiseptic' which
is also used as a link for later on in the story and `The pleasant
smell of furniture polish, and fresh chrysanthemums'. This is written
just after the statement about the antiseptic smell, which creates a
simile between the two. This is done to create imagery and confusion
in the audience and engaging the reader so he will read on to find out
what these weird apparent smells are and what they have to do with the
story. At the end of the story a `rite of passage' or a `cliff hanger'
is created which appeals to the audience and raises more questions
than it does answer:
`There is fear in that room of hers-black fear, and there will be-so
long as this house of sin endures'. I think that this is the best part
of the story, it shows the good use of language and is a very powerful
sentence as it is open ended. `Farthing House' finishes differently,
as it has raised a lot of questions throughout the story, it reveals
then all and finishes quite nicely and peacefully, with a hint of a
stereotypical end to the tale. `But I imagine she has gone, now that
she has what she was looking for'.
A sense of foreboding is often used in both stories. This
creates tension, depth and atmosphere to the tales. The fear of the
old, deformed people create a contrast between the young narrators
confidence and the keepers' traditional views of the haunted Red Room.
The atmosphere in both stories is created with the use of language;
such words, which give depth and a history that gives a more
realistic, feel to the tales. The atmosphere in `Farthing House' is
helped by the history, as it is only till later on in the story, we
discover the use of `Farthing House' before it was used for a
retirement home. It was `a home for the young and their illegitimate
babies'. This explains why the ghost has returned, to forfill some
unfinished business. The atmosphere to some extend creates frission
but not as much as many of the other factors. When the narrator
explains the smell and it was though `A door had been opened on to the
past'. This adds depth and confusion to the story. `The last night was
fading behind a copse of bare beech trees, the sun dropping down'.
This is the perfect setting and atmosphere needed for a ghost story,
it sets the scene up and the reader has a sense of apprehension, as
the description is giving the view of an orange sky with creepy, tall
trees overlapping each other as if they were staring and going to grab
you. This causes the reader to become scared and anxious of what the
narrator is to expect. This tension creates a sense of ambiguity. In
the reader and the narrator. HG Wells explains `The great Red Room of
Lorraine Castle, in which the young duke had died'. This raises
questions about the duke. How had he been killed? And what if he came
back to haunt the Red Room. Also the descriptive language in which the
story is written helps to establish the `Redness of the large sombre
room'. Without this description the atmosphere would not be created.
The darkness of the room gives off an overwhelming sensation of black
fear. Fear of the dark and paranoia, which the narrator found out the
hard way, so much that he hit his head and caused a gash. Susan Hill
gives a physical explanation of a ghost and the narrator visualises it
and that is a more expected view from a Victorian gothic tale. The
answer in which the narrator gives to the keepers of the castle is
unexpected. There could have been a ghost but the narrator sounds very
reassured that it was all in the mind.
Ghost stories' main aim is to scare the reader or to raise
their emotions causing them to have a little fear and enjoyment. This,
I feel was done very well by HG Wells and Susan Hill, but they did a
lot to make both the stories as enjoyable as they were. The use of
many different elements helps to construct a gothic tale, the setting,
characterisation, language and atmosphere. Here I think there is no
major part which makes ghost stories what they are, ghost stories
would be nothing if they missed one of these elements, and as `The Red
Room' showed there doesn't have to be a ghost for you to enjoy the
tale. However, I do feel that in these two particular stories that
they would have still been good, but not as excellent if they didn't
contain the first person narrative, this helps the reader to establish
the events more quickly and more emotions are fed through the narrator
than it would if it was written as a third person. This is what I
agree with and I feel it fits in with both stories and is directed at
the reader. Dr Johnson in 1979 said `The question simply is, whether
departed spirits ever have the power of making themselves perceptible
to us; a man who has seen an apparition can only be convinced
himself'.
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