Another aspect of the old characters in the story is simply the fact that they are so old. They "seem to belong to a different age", as Wells writes. They seem almost "spectral." The fact they are so odd and unfriendly creates an uneasy atmosphere and raising the tension. The characters also are never referred to using their name they are de-personalised. This adds to the unfriendly atmosphere.
Another thing in the story that deepens the dark atmosphere and raises tension is the appearance of the place. The furniture and ornaments, "the thoughts of vanished men." That seem to haunt rather than participate, they are all but useless. All of "fashions born in dead brains." The narrative here describing the appearance of the castle paints a vivid black picture. This atmosphere of age, disuse and death raises tension.
The young man's journey to the red room is greatly affective in bringing the tension higher. Wells creates a dark dingy trek through "long, draughty subterranean passages." His does not get to the red room by travelling along a warm bright corridor, it is chilly and dusty. Full of echoes and personified shadows that sweep and flee about him. An unsettling walk. The red room it self is an unsettling place. It is large, cold and shadowy. Unwellcoming. Filled with "black corners" and "germinating darkness." Wells describes "an ocean of mystery" in the room. The darkness and enigma of the room leaves readers think what could be in the room.
At the beginning of the story, the main character is considerably confident, and arrogant in his approach towards the red room and his company. He does not seem to belief in his elder's stories of ghosts and the supernatural. "Show me to this haunted room of yours," he greets the prospect of a haunted room with disbelief and sarcasm. When he leaves the sitting room at the beginning of the story he admits that in spite of his efforts to keep himself in a "matter of fact phase" the old people affect him. He is becoming less confident.
This story is in first person so you travel this journey into the red room with the character, creating a high tension. When he reaches the landing before the red room the lack of light creates, in shadows, the impression of someone "waylay," surprise, to attack him. His confidence falters again and he becomes apprehensive in his advance. Wells make the character begin to question his previous stance that the supernatural is folly. Making the reader wonder if ghosts are in fact real. Then when he reaches the red room he experiences another "twinge of apprehension". When he realises that he is in the spot where his "predecessor" was found. Here Wells raises tension when he makes the reader wonder what could have happened to the one to go before the main character. Why did he die?
The character now finally enters the red room. "The great red room of Lorraine Castle" as it is described. This line glorifies the room, giving it an even greater sense of power and mystery. Wells then gives a dark description of the room, with its "shadowy window bays" alcoves and recesses. It's "germinating darkness." This description of the room leaves space for suspicion and uncertancy in the mind of the reader. The room is "an ocean of mystery." Tensions are heightened and an uneasy atmosphere is set. What is in the darkness of the room? It is not certain and the imagination of the reader is left to run wild. Even after filling the room with candles he is not comforted much. Because of the "undefinable quality of presence". This unsettled air leads the reader uneasy.
The man's composure again is shown to be diminished when he says that he is in a "considerable state of nervous tension." The man who before was so confident and even mocked the red room is now quite afraid of it. That conversion of attitude itself creates tension. It must be quite a frightening experience to reduce somebody's confidence so. When one of the candles suddenly goes out it is almost a jerk, a sudden fright. "By Jove!" the man starts to talk to himself, his composure is being lessened. Next another candle goes out, as the Wells writes "something seemed to blink on the wall before me." The personification of the candle's disappearance adds tension. It gives the impression that it was not an accident, it make the reader wonder if the candle was put out. Someone is in the room. Then another candle goes out as if it had been, "nipped between finger and thumb." Another indication that he is not alone in the red room. The man's composure now disappears, he is consumed by terror. In a "half-hysterical facetiousness" he struggles to relight the candles as the are extinguished. He has become "frantic with the horror of the coming darkness." The actions of desperate fear take the tension to its highest. An atmosphere is set of terror of an unknown assailant. The man makes a blind attempt to find the door when he is struck or strikes himself unconscious.
When the man regains his conscience and talks to the old people ounce more he admits, "Yes," "the room is haunted." Wells describes the fear of fear itself. "A power of darkness." Throughout the story Wells builds tension using many things. The old people, their ancient unfriendly ways, the man's surroundings, the castle, dark cold eerie, and the demise of the young man's confidence into blind terror. Wells builds an atmosphere of pitch black, impenetrable mystery.
