The story begins in first, using direct speech from the narrator, “Helloa below there!” This speech is proved to be very significant later on in the story. Dickens uses the direct speech; in the first person as this creates a little awareness. If the story were written in third person, Dickens would perhaps have to describe the person speaking, their surroundings and how they felt. The use of first person narrative creates an air of suspense. First person allows only one point of view to be shown throughout the story so the readers are in suspense as the plot of the story unfolds to the narrator. The use of direct speech persuades the reader to think about the story. They begin to ask themselves questions like ‘who is speaking? Why are they speaking? And who are they speaking to?’. Dickens writes the opening in such a way that the reader can understand the plot in several ways. This is a trend that continues throughout the whole story. The narrator is shouting to another character that doesn’t reply. This is unusual behaviour and poses unanswered questions. These events could lead to numerous plots. The narrator could be shouting to a ghost, being a ghost the signalman is unable to reply. As Dickens has not yet mentioned the word ‘ghost’ or ‘supernatural’ in any way, there may not be any element of this, perhaps just two men who have perhaps not heard each other. Factual words are not used throughout the story but it is left to the readers’ imagination to enable the reader to perceive what they will. Words such as “shadowed” and “deep trench” are used to involve the imagery of darkness without using the word dark. “Trench” could be referring to maybe a grave or a trench as used in the war. Both have a very strong association with death, pain and suffering. The opening sets the tone for the rest of “The Signalman” and readers are asking themselves many questions, which is an excellent tool in the creating of suspense.
The character of the signalman is given to the reader immediately, in the title. Nothing of the signalman’s character is known but already the reader will start to form opinions and presume certain traits. Readers’ presume, from the beginning, that the signalman is a working class, who will have perhaps had no money throughout his life and he comes form a poor background. From that the reader automatically conclude that he must be un-educated and probably isn’t very knowledgeable enough to acquire another job, that requires academic qualities. From the title, the reader knows that the signalman will be very important to the story, but isn’t told why. This proves a certain air of anonymity. In the opening the signalman’s behaviour is very peculiar. Either he is deaf or ignorant for not answering to the narrators enquiries. He seems to have heard, yet remains with no reply or acknowledgment to the narrator’s presence. When he does finally acknowledge the narrator he only gestures and remains silent. This is very strange behaviour for a man whose job is a lonely one and a regular person would have been glad, even grateful of the company. Dickens describes the signalman as “dark” this suggests to the reader that he is supernatural and immoral, as usually evil things are said to be 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 yellow. This suggests to the reader that something is wrong. This creates suspense as the reader begins to think about what could be wrong with the signalman and why his appearance is as described. Dickens continues to create the feeling towards the reader that the signalman is immortal, “His attitude was one of such expectation and watchfulness, that I stopped a moment, wondering at it”. Dickens creates suspense in this because he is making the narrator act unsure in what he sees therefore the reader in unsure. Since the story is written in first person narrative, it adds tension to the way that the signalman is described. If the story were written in third person narrative then the effects wouldn’t be as successful.
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, which requires concentration and precision. It is a position of high responsibility and trust. This could be viewed, by the signalman as an opportunity to redeem himself. A second chance perhaps, at proving his worth. The job of a signalman requires precision and Dickens shows that the signalman has it, “I observed him to be remarkably exact and vigilant”.
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. The reader would want to know why anyone would speak purposely quiet 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. “It is very difficult to impart, sir”. On the first night the signalman refuses to give many details and throughout the conversation seems to be afraid of and dreads the narrator. This creates suspense because it is keeping the reader hanging on, wanting to know what the signalman has to hide.
The narrator, after repeating, “is there any path by which I can come down and speak to you?” approaches the signalman by the zigzag path. The “cutting” was “extremely deep”. This, perhaps, again could be referring to a grave. This gives an effect towards the reader because it has a gothic setting, which again creates suspense. The cutting was “unusual precipitate”. Precipitate has several meanings, two of which could both be applied quite easily to the story. Physical steepness would be found on a cliff face. The meaning regarding to the steepness could yet again be the reader referring to a grave yet the other is to be rushed. It is unclear as to which Dickens meant when he writing this imagery. Perhaps he meant both or perhaps he meant to confuse the reader, yet again forcing them to ask themselves 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 knows what awaits him at the end of the path.
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 the signalman, as he does not want to be there. This adds to the amount of suspense Dickens creates because with the signalman being scared of something and with the setting being described as imprisonment, it seems as if something does happen he cant get away. Also the narrator would feel the same way because he isn’t used to being down there.
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 is the colour of danger, which adds to the suspense that Dickens creates. There was a “cold wind” about the place. The air was depicted and “forbidding”. This could be another way of describing perhaps suffocation or claustrophobia. This also relates to the imprisonment issue. If something ever happened down there then it would be hard to get out. 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. This affects the reader because anything could come out of the tunnel at any time. So it is something that the reader is always going to be aware of. 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 id familiarised with only one setting, people know that the important events of the story are going to happen there, therefore they could happen at any time. Again this is causing suspense as the reader begins to wonder what might happen there and who could be involved. The characters always met 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 narrator, we presume, is a man of higher class as the signalman refers to him as “sir”. The reader presumes that he is a doctor of some sort. 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 have no rational comments, 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 are freak accidents that no one could have foreseen. He describes the signalman as a “poor man” showing that he is taking pity. 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!” 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 intention. 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.
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 short stories full of tension and suspense and how they are set. 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 supernatural explanations. The Victorian readers of the time would have, in my opinion, enjoyed “The Signalman”.
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 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.
By Shannon Phillips
