The narrator, after repeating, “Is there any path by which I can come down and speak to you?” approaches the signalman on direction from the signalman to a zig-zag path. The “cutting” was “extremely deep”. This, perhaps, again could be referring to a grave. The cutting was “unusually precipitate”. Precipitate has several meanings, two of which could both be applied quite easily to the story. Physical steepness such as would be found on a cliff face, could apply as to could the meaning of water vapour, condensed from the air as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The meaning regarding the steepness could yet again me referring to a grave yet the other is causing the reader to feel miserable, as all precipitates are unpleasant weather. It is unclear as to which Dickens meant when writing this imagery. Perhaps he meant both or perhaps he meant to confuse the reader, yet again forcing them to ask themselves questions subconsciously: questions which aid in the build up of suspense. The narrator is “reluctant” as he descends down the path. The reader may feel the same anxiety and anticipation as the narrator as neither know what awaits him at the end of the path or what reception, from the signalman, he will arrive at. The area in which the signalman’s box is situated is described as “solitary” and “dismal”. Dickens describes the surroundings as a “dungeon”. This could be referring to a gothic castle setting, torture and imprisonment. The imprisonment could be applied to both the signalman and the narrator as both could not want to be there. This creates a tense mood and one of suspense. The limited amount of information so far, given by Dickens does not include whether the signalman is there of his own free will or has been forced to reside there. The place had about it, an “earthy deadly” smell and the light was described as “gloomy” and “red”. Red id the colour usually associated with danger, but could also be interoperated as representing blood. There was a “cold wind” about the place. The air was depicted ad “forbidding”. Forbidding can be defines and deprivation, restraint or restriction. What could the air be “forbidding”? This could be another way of describing perhaps suffocation or claustrophobia. The tunnel was described as “gloomy” and “black” with “depressing” “massive architecture”. Black is used to show the nothingness in the tunnel, and the inability to see anything. The inability to see anything causes suspense in itself; anyone would panic if they were unable to see. In the story there is only one setting. This may be giving the reader time to familiarise themselves with the surroundings and imagine fully what the setting is like. Also if the reader is familiarised with only the one setting, one knows that the important events in the story, are going to happen there. Again this causes suspense as the reader begins to wonder what might happen there and who could be involved. The characters always meet outside, late at night. Nighttime is a commonly used setting in horror stories as impaired vision results in nervousness and not knowing what to expect. The setting depicted by Dickens does not seem the safest, most comfortable place to meet. Meeting places and times are effective in giving the reader clues to what may happen in the plot. They can be used to build up tension and to lead the reader away from the unexpected.
The character of the signalman is given to the reader immediately, in the title. We know nothing of the signalman’s character but already we start to form opinions and presume certain traits. We presume, from the beginning, that the signalman was a working class man, who perhaps will have had no money throughout his life and that he comes from a poor background. From that we automatically conclude that he must be un-educated and probably isn’t clever enough to acquire another job, that requires academic qualities. The title also tells us what the story is going to be about – a signalman. The title also aids Dickens in creating suspense, as we know nothing of the signalman except, that he is a signalman. This provides a certain air of anonymity.
In the opening the signalman’s behaviour is very peculiar. Either he is deaf or ignorant for not answering the narrator’s enquiries. He seems to have heard, yet remains with no reply or acknowledgement to the narrators presence. When he finally does acknowledge the narrator he only gestures and remains silent. This is very strange behaviour for a man who’s job was a lonely one and a regular person would have been glad, even grateful of the company. Dickens describes the signalman as “dark”. He has “dark” and “sallow”. He has a “dark beard” and “heavy eyebrows”. The use of the word sallow implies that the signalman is weary, tired and perhaps even ill or worried about something. This creates suspense as the reader begins to think about what could be wrong with the signalman and why his appearance is as described. The reader is told that the signalman, at one time, attended university, studying Philosophy. This shows that he must have, in the past, been affluent and intelligent enough to attend. Through whatever circumstances, the signalman never graduated. In Victorian times, most people didn’t get the chance to go to university and if one was fortunate enough to be given the chance, there were no second chances if one wasted their opportunity. The job of a signalman is one of which requires concentration and precision. It is a position of high responsibility and trust. This could be viewed, by the signalman, has an opportunity to redeem himself. A second chance perhaps, at proving his worth. The signalman is obviously in a state of nervousness and is continually on edge. He is afraid of something and Dickens shows this by the signalman speaking in a “low” voice. Why, would anyone, speak purposely quietly when there isn’t a soul around to disturb? This is unusual behaviour and the reader will begin to wonder why he is behaving in such a way. The signalman’s conversations with the narrator begin, very guarded. On the first night the signalman refuses to give many details and throughout the conversation seems to be afraid of and dreads the narrator. On the second night the signalman is a lot more open and trusting towards the narrator.
The narrator, we presume, is a man of higher class as the signalman refers to him as “sir”. We are told that he is a doctor. As he talks to the signalman the narrator is understandably wary, a little confused and very sceptical that what the signalman is saying is entirely true. Although, to the narrator, some of the conversation seems to bare no rational comments he is willing to listen, and as a doctor, attempts to provide help. He feels sorry for the signalman and blames the delirious accounts of previous “encounters” on lack of sleep and lack contact with other people. Even though the narrator is evidently disturbed and scared by what he has listened to, he is concerned for the welfare of the signalman and resolves to reason with the signalman and convinces him that everything he describes to do with the spectre was in his imagination and the unexplainable deaths freak accidents that no one could have foreseen. He describes the signalman as a “poor man” showing that he is taking pity. The narrator also feels a responsibility for the “public safety”, meaning that he doubts whether the signalman is fit to carry out his job with a sound mind. He is aware that the signalman “understands” his duty and is “intelligent, vigilant, painstaking and exact” but is unsure of how long that will last. He describes the signalman’s position as “subordinate” or in other words
secondary, lesser or inferior. The narrator intends to help the signalman and place him in care of a hospital of some kind; probably psychiatric.
The narrator, although he remains composed, is quite surprised to hear of the signalman’s death. He is even more surprised to hear under what circumstances it happened. The train driver repeated the dialogue said by the spectre to the signalman, word for word, before it ran the signalman over.
“Below there! Look out! Look out! For God’s sake clear the way!”
He also waved his arm and covered his face in the manner described by the signalman, as the actions of the spectre. The narrator may perhaps feel guilty as he convinced the signalman that the spectre wasn’t real, and that it was all a figment of his imagination. The signalman must have stood in the way of the train, believing it only to be in his head, therefore posing no danger. There is no definite ending to the story as there are several scenarios that could be Dickens’s intended story. One option could be for there to be no supernatural intervention and the signalman had a coincidental, over-active imagination or was just crazy. I do not believe this was Dickens’s intended ending. Either character could be a possible candidate for a ghost yet I feel that neither was. In my opinion I believe Dickens intended both characters to be human and there to a be an actual spectre that appears to the signalman. I think the story is showing that the lower class people aren’t believed as much as high classes. If it had been a man of an educated profession such as a doctor, for example, then one might have found the story a little more believable, although perhaps not fully believed that the tale was a truthful account.
When reading “The Signalman” without analysis it is, in my opinion, an effective horror story that creates suspense well. The way Dickens describes the setting (which, is somewhat modern for the time period in which the story was written) makes the reader think of other horror stories and how they are set. Words such as “dark”, “clammy” and “dungeon” describe the setting, the railway, almost as if it could be a castle. Castle settings were commonly used in many famous horror novels of the time such as “Dracula” and “Frankenstein”. The suspense and intrigue created by Dickens leads the reader to believe the story has a supernatural but upon close analysis, it would be quite possible for the happenings to have rational explanations. The Victorian readers of the time would have, in my opinion, enjoyed “The Signalman”. Although, for a horror story, the setting was quite unusual, the blend of modernism, Industrial Revolution, the railway and the element of horror, creates a story that would appeal to many people of the time. Victorians made horror stories fashionable and, especially the upper class, had a fascination with new inventions and modernisation. Class was an important issue to Victorians. Dickens presents the reader with these issues.
Many readers of the story would be of higher class, as they tended to be the only ones educated enough to be able to read. The reader is told that the signalman, at one time, attended university, studying Philosophy. This shows that he must have, in the past, been affluent and intelligent enough to attend. Through whatever circumstances, the signalman never graduated. In Victorian times, most people didn’t get the chance to go to university and if one was fortunate enough to be given the chance, there were no second chances if one squandered their opportunity. Alternatively “The Signalman” could be a way to show people that appearances aren’t all that they may first appear and that we should not judge a person from first impressions. We presume, from the beginning, that the signalman was a working class man, who perhaps will have had no money throughout his life and that he comes from a poor background. From that we automatically conclude that he must be un-educated and probably isn’t clever enough to acquire another job, that requires academic qualities. This, as we are told, isn’t true as he attended university. “The Signalman” could have been used as propaganda in several ways to address the problems with the class divide. It could be a warning to those of higher class studying at university. The story could be a deterrent, showing that if they squander their opportunities in they way the signalman did, they too could end up in a simple, laborious and manual job too. “The Signalman” could also be read another way dependant on the way the reader interprets it. The story could be providing some self-esteem and dignity to those in lower class situations, something to make them proud of what they are doing and make it feel worthwhile. The signalman was once a well off, upper-class citizen and the stresses of a commoner’s job caused him to become unstable, deranged and irrational. Most sane people do not report to have seeing apparitions and spectres. Lower class people could read the story and feel satisfaction in whatever job they are doing and feel self-importance. The story could be used as motivational propaganda to boost moral of the lower class workforce. The use of no finalised ending gives the reader no closure to the story. This yet another way to keep the reader in suspense. Dickens has used excellent techniques in “The Signalman” to create suspense, and keep the suspense strong throughout the story all the way to the very end. Even after the reader has finished the story there is still suspense remaining, as they are asking themselves what the actual ending is. This is the result of successful use of various techniques to create suspense.
