How Does Graham Green use detail to create atmosphere in his short stories?

In another story by Graham Greene "The Blue Film" the character of Carter's wife is very similar to Mrs Baines. Mrs Carter is described similar to Mrs Baines from when it says, "Mrs Carter said with a thin smile". This is very similar to Mrs Baines. Both Mrs Baines and Mrs Carter are described as bitter people. I can tell this from when it says, "there was a depth of bitterness and rage in Mrs Baines", this is similar to Mrs Carter when it says, and "she broke her bitter silence". Graham Greene obviously had a time in his life when there was a bad woman in his life because the two wives in the stories are described as evil people.

Both Mrs Baines and Mrs Carter are also compared to birds. Graham Greene compares Mrs Baines to a bird when he says "She swoops", only birds can swoop. Mrs Carter is compared with a Heron "Her thin bare legs reminded him of a Heron waiting for fish". "Waiting for fish" and "Swooping" is a predatory action and this shows how nasty they are. Mrs carter is also like a predator when it says, "you've spilt your coffee". This shows that she pounces on the opportunity like a predator. They both pounce on people making them sharp and bitter nasty women.

Mrs Baines is a "sour", "loveless", joyless and generally an evil person. There is a great deal of detail describing Mrs Baines in the Basement room. "Meticulous and loveless" means Mrs Baines does not care about anyone. All she seems to care about is her job and making sure it is done perfectly "I've got too much to do today to trouble about you." This shows she only cares about her work. She is a perfectionist "Mrs Baines Polished". When Mrs Baines is said to be "sour" just shows even more what a cold person she is. This is a contrast to Emmy a Phillip's mother with the sweet pink things associated with them such as "pink hangings" and the "pale perfumes".

In the "Blue film" Carter could be associated with Baines from the "Basement room" because Carter had his first love when he was young with a prostitute "it seemed to him that he had betrayed that night the only woman he loved". But Carter doesn't have her now he has a wife, which he truly doesn't love "impaled in her desire". Carter feels lonely without his true love "with a feeling of loneliness and guilt" and therefore he does not love his wife.

This is the same with Baines. Baines is married to Mrs Baines who he doesn't love. He in fact hates her. Baines wants to be with his true love Emily but he cannot because of Mrs Baines. Mrs Baines restricts Baines from Emily, which is understandable seeing as she is his wife. But Graham Greene brings it out that Mrs Baines is the wrong in the story and Baines isn't, when in fact Baines is breaking moral law. Graham Greene does this by saying Mrs Baines is a "nightmare" and from the beginning persuading you to Baines's side. Baines can only see Emily when Mrs Baines is gone. Baines is only happy when he is with Emily. Baines becomes "merry" and "childish" when Mrs Baines is gone which shows how much he has been restricted while he has been with Mrs Baines. It is as though Mrs Baines treats Baines as a child and when she is gone all the barriers just disappear.

Another point showing Mrs Baines as evil is due to the fact that Graham Greene describes Mrs Baines to do with black things. Graham Greene creates an evil atmosphere around Mrs Baines. A very detailed description " with her untidy grey hair and her black dress buttoned to her throat, her gloves of black cotton, she was so like the witches of his dreams that he didn't dare to speak. There was a stale smell in her breath". This is a very detailed description of Mrs Baines and makes her sound like an evil woman with all the Black and the witches. Mrs Baines is also a scary woman to Phillip "Phillip watched her in terror". Also when Mrs Baines is killed she is described as a "black sack of coals" and a "flurry of black clothes". This just adds to her evilness.

In "The Blue Film" Mrs Carter is said to be dry "she laid a dry hot hand on his knee". The dryness of Mrs Carter along with her bitterness gives a bad atmosphere with Mrs Carter. Graham Green uses great detail when describing the two wives in the stories and gives them a bad atmosphere from just reading the two stories. The detailed descriptions of characters creates atmosphere throughout the stories and this is particularly effective with Mrs Carter and Mrs Baines.

Tom Keeling