How does H.G Wells build up suspense in his story 'The Red Room' 'The Red Room' is a pre - 20th Century short story written by H.G Wells.

How does H.G Wells build up suspense in his story ‘The Red Room’

‘The Red Room’ is a pre – 20th Century short story written by H.G Wells. ‘The Red Room’ is an example of a traditional gothic ghost story. These types of stories were very popular in the 19th Century. Traditional ghost stories are usually set in a gloomy old castle with a haunted room. There may also be an element of darkness in the castle. These features are common in most pre 20th Century gothic literature. It is ironic that the story is titled ‘The Red Room’ when there is mainly an element of darkness in the room. Wells may have used the title ‘The Red Room’ to create an image of blood. This creates suspense because it engages the reader and gives them something to expect from the story. The opening line of the story ‘I can assure you’ builds tension in the reader. This is because it starts in the middle of an argument. This technique is effective because it makes the reader want to read on.

H.G Wells makes the setting a crucial part of the story. This can clearly be seen from the description of the castle and the characters. ‘The door creaked on its hinges’ suggests that he castle is neglected; it also gives the story some mystery. H.G Wells uses the description of the ‘old people’ to build tension. He uses words such as ‘grotesque and inhuman’ to make them sound hideous and animal like. This makes the reader feel disgust towards the old people. H.G Wells does not name any of the characters in the story. He only refers to the characters as ‘the old lady’ and ‘the man with the withered arm.’ He continuously uses these descriptions throughout the story this gives an element of mystery to the story. Wells also chooses to withhold information on many features of the setting. He does not tell us the purpose of the characters being in the castle. He also does not give us any history on the characters or there relation to each other. These features bring suspense to the story.

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Tension in the story rises as the young man enters the ‘The Red Room.’ ‘Wanting to dispel the fanciful suggestions of its obscurity before they obtained a hold upon me.’ This line suggests that he is confident about his future experience inside the room. The technique used is effective because it makes the story have an expectancy. Although the young man is fairly confident at the start of his vigil, he shows that he is afraid of darkness. ‘This is displayed when the writer states: ‘my candle was a little tongue of light in its vastness.’ Wells uses personification in this line to create an image in the readers mind. This technique builds up suspense because it engages the reader. Wells repeatedly describes a shadow following the young man: ‘and a shadow came sweeping up after me.’ Wells uses imagery again in this line to build tension in the story. This makes the story more entertaining for the reader. Wells also makes us feel that the young man is afraid of shadows. We can see this from the following extracts: ‘in a shadowy corner’ and ‘that large sombre room, with its shadowy window bay. The young man may feel uneasy about shadows because of a fear of darkness. Wells builds feelings of mounting panic by revealing the characters’ state of mind during his experience. ‘By this time I was in a state of considerable nervous tension.’ This line suggests that the character has lost entirely his earlier confidence. The technique used by the writer is effective because the reader has the same feeling at the time.

Wells constantly makes light the young mans hope for survival. ‘At last to reassure myself, I walked with a candle into it.’ This line suggests that the young man is frightened because he needs reassurance. It also shows his struggle with darkness. This creates suspense because it makes the reader want to know the outcome. Wells

Creates a feeling of mounting terror by increasing the pace of the story. This can clearly be seen from the action upon action that occurs in certain parts of the story. This creates a tense atmosphere and brings suspense to the story. Wells uses imagery to give the reader a sense of what is going on. This is displayed when the writer states: ‘an invisible hand seemed to sweep out the two candles on the candle. This line gives us an image of a hand taking light away from a table. The imagery used emphasises the point the writer is trying to make and builds suspense.

Wells plays with the readers’ feelings while the atmosphere is very tense. ‘Of course I could still thrust my candle between the bars and relight it!’ Wells gives confidence to the character, which makes the reader feel relief for the character. This technique is effective because it makes the reader feel as if they were involved. Wells leaves us in suspense when the young man loses control. This can clearly be seen from the line: ‘I bruised myself on the thigh against the table, I sent a chair head long I stumbled and fell and whisked the cloth from the table in my fall.’ This line brings suspense to the story because we have no idea how badly he managed to hurt himself.

The ending of the story has a clear contrast with the beginning. One of the contrasts is the ‘old people.’ At the beginning of the story the ‘old people’ are described in an unfavourable manner. However at the end of the story the old people are shown to be civil and helpful. ‘And saw the old woman, no longer abstracted pouring out some drops of medicine from a little blue phial.’ The ‘old people’ are seen now in a whole new perspective. These twist used by Wells are very effective because it makes the story attention grabbing.