‘Country Living’ by Guy de Maupassant, written in translation, set in France, is about two similar malnourished families, just about scraping by, both given the option of ‘selling’ their child to obtain a better life for it, and them. One mother rebukes the idea ‘I won’t have it! It’d be sinful and wicked!’ whereas, the other agrees after the father asks for more money. After years of the child kept, being told how great a mother he has, when he confronts the ‘sold’ child, he resents his mother’s decision and despises her evident selfishness. ‘Of course I blame you. I blame you fore being so soft in the head. Parents like you is the reason why children get held back. It’d serve you right if I upped sticks and off. This story’s ending is unexpected as audience has seen it through the mother’s eyes, and felt her emotions and ‘bond’ with her child. Therefore, when he effectively turned around and resented his mother for her choice, it causes the reader to delve into the realms of what is really morally right. When as a parent what you think is good, may not be for your child in the end and have an adverse effect. Guy de Maupassant developed a simplistic, exact style; he joined the circle of naturalistic writers, writers wanting to document the lives of ordinary people through their suffering and experiences.
During the course of the century, short stories became more poplar. Many more people were able to read now than every before, technology was improving and cheap magazines were now available to the poorest of people. Reading was the best pastime and form of entertainment, it allowed readers to escape the limitations of their own reality and explore lives of other people from other places, thus the themes of the story’s had to be such, that the readers could identify with the situations. The authors broadcasted their own experiences and views on life, through their stories. The authors used concepts the people of the time were accustomed to, making the story alive to them letting them identify with the characters. It made them question ethics about topics such as crime and punishment, the divide between rich and poor and the position of women in society.
Those were some examples of unexpected endings, but as I said before the success of a story is cannot be solely attributed to one factor e.g. the ending, but many other factors compliment and work with them. The plot and theme of short stories are very important, as if there is not a structured plot and appealing theme there cannot be a good story. Involved in the development of plot and theme throughout the story, (as well as being separate elements) is the use of suspense, setting, atmosphere, characterization, melodrama, and narrator/ point of view.
Although, sometimes being short stories there is not enough time to fully develop these, as there would be in novels, hence the authors use of these has to be carefully thought-out. The time between the introduction and the climax of the stories is crucial; here the other factors help to develop the story letting it evolve. Successful use of these other factors, creates an effective story, whereas bad use questions the story’s plausibility, leaves
I believe a good plot has to contain an interesting theme; an example of an interesting theme is that of ‘the Speckled band’ by Sir Conan Doyle, the story entails malicious murder, mystery and money. Not only does it contain an interesting theme, but also effective use of the supplementary factors creates the successful story. ‘The Speckled band’, is about a young lady Helen, who after the untimely death of her sister, feels she will be next.
The introduction of the story shed’s some light on the plot, just enough to entice the reader, but not letting too much on. At the very beginning of , Dr. Watson introduces the case. He explains that he has only just been able to release details of this case because of the 'untimely death' of a lady to whom he vowed to keep the details secret.
"It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reason to know that there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tends to make the matter even more terrible than the truth."
Watson's introduction fills the reader with anticipation. His suggestion of the secrecy surrounding the case makes it seem more intriguing and his suggestion that the truth of it is in someway 'terrible' creates suspense as the reader awaits the descriptions of these so-called terrors. Doyle has already managed to grip the reader, very subtly through giving the least amount of information possible. Little light is shed on the plot, at this point but the reader undoubtedly has their own ideas surrounding the contents of this case. Having a gripping beginning such as this, keeps the reader keen, but such interest needs to be maintained throughout the length of the story through the use of other factors.
In the story, we learn from Doyle’s description about the stepfathers past, enlightening the readers into the real danger Helen might be in. ‘In a fit of anger ….he beat his native butler to death …he suffered a long term of imprisonment and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man." This long description of Roylott Helens stepfather adds to the readers' impression that he is capable of terrible things. The word 'ferocious' suggest an image of a wild animal. There is the suggestion here that he is the victim of some genetic madness and that he is 'uncontrollable'. ‘… he is a man of immense strength and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger’. These animals like qualities of unpredictability and aggression create great tension precisely because it seems he is a man who could do something terrible at any time, to the helpless Helen. The fact that Roylott later bursts into the office, shouting around in a aid to show his apparent superiority and strength, shows he thinks highly of himself, and seems to hold the notion that he has the right to do whatever he pleases. The way in which Doyle uses characterisation is significant and very important in short stories, through informational descriptions he gives, with underlying meanings, he is able to successfully create suspense, atmospheres and arouse anticipation in the reader.
As the story progresses Doyle tends to play with the plot by using the element of surprise. He uses the surprises as deterrents/ distractions from the actual plot/ line of thought of Holmes, making the story more exciting. These surprises also go hand in hand, with creating suspense, which also determines the atmosphere. The readers were lead to believe, one thing, when as the story progresses these first assumptions are dismissed. Doyle introduces mysterious factors, such as odd clues and apparent loose end. Doyle holds back on Holmes’ explanation until the very end.
The atmosphere is filled with tension; as the story draws to the climax, the tension is mounting. Holmes and Watson return back to the mansion in the dead of night, the weather and apparition of the baboon, add to intensity ‘. Doyle starts to use shorter sentences to create the suspense. The most significant part, where Doyle cunningly builds up the anticipation, tension and atmosphere, is during Holmes and Watson’s waiting in silence, and complete darkness. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend”, warns Holmes the usually calm and understated, but through his care, the danger of the situation is revealed.
“I could not hear a sound, not even the drawing of a breath …The shutters cut off the least ray of light…d we waited in absolute darkness… Far away we could hear the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour… Twelve struck, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall.”
The readers await the moment of reckoning. Doyle, doesn’t describe fully the events that happen after, the long time spend sitting in darkness, after all the story is written in the first person, in the eyes of Watson. The events are unclear to the reader as they were to Watson, but undoubtedly, Holmes knew the exact implications of the happenings, and found out what the speckled band.
With all the factors Doyle used he managed to give the best possible effect of the story upon the readers, along with this he also wrote the story in the first person. By writing in the first person as Watson, Doyle was able to give the full effect of the story to the readers, as if they themselves were present. The fact that they were in darkness and Watson could not see what Holmes’ had discovered, keeps the tension and suspense building right through the story. The anguish of anticipation the readers feel is only fulfilled at the end, the revelation of the mystery.
‘Napoleon and the Spectre’ by Charlotte Brontë, is an interesting ghost story, Napoleon with a strange apparition as the main characters. Napoleon attempting to get a good nights rest, is incessantly disturbed by peculiar sounds and strange events. ‘…as he did so a slight rustling noise was heard … a deep groan burst from a kind of close… this threat produced no other effect than a short, sharp laugh, and a dead silence followed.’ The theme is implied rather like most short stories, through the strange events, though the plot is slightly indistinct at the beginning as the story progresses it becomes clearer. This beginning similar to ‘The Speckled Band’, Charlotte manages to arouse curiosity within the readers. The setting is also significant in creating this curiosity. “‘Let down those window-curtains, and shut the casement before you leave the room.’ Chevalier did as he was told, then, taking his candlestick, departed.” Napoleon is alone, in a dark room, with the curtains closed, this small bit of information, complementary to the odd occurrences. If Napoleon was in broad daylight, with many people around him, these occurrences would not have had the same effect.
The ‘half brothers’ published in 1858, written by Elizabeth Gaskell, highlights the difficulties ordinary families had to face. She uses melodrama and manipulation, quite strongly in bringing across her views. ‘ Her husband came in while she was looking at us, … seemed to gaze on us two little half brothers, with a grave sort of kindliness, she looked …smiled… such a sweet smile!... In an hour she was dead’ This passage is quite manipulative there are several other occasions where the writer uses manipulation. She makes the mothers death appear seemingly calm, pleasant and peaceful, when the readers know that the reality of the situation is far form it; as the story draws to an end, with the death of one of the main characters. The author uses significant emotive words in demonstrating her peaceful departure ‘kindliness… sweet… tenderly’, the passage is ironic. The fact that in that time, children’s lives, were valued much less than they are now, makes the mother seem overly caring, in a society used to deaths of infants, and parents. The also to the readers of the story in the 1800’s many might have been able to identify with the mother or children, evoking empathetic feelings in the reader.
Another important element of a good story the use of correct language, as the right language gives the right effect. In the ‘half brothers’ the graveness of the dying brother’s situation is revealed through the language. ‘It hemmed me in…. thicker, thicker… boggy soil…. I dared not move far’ these give a claustrophobic feeling, as if he’s being enclosed and surrounded, ‘boggy soil’ like quicksand ready to engulf him, ‘he dared not move’, by wandering around farther would only worsen his sorry state. This shows how little description can be effectively used to gain the best possible effect for the story.
Over my study of the six short stories I have gained a substantial amount of respect for the writers. They are able to use the write balance of different components to achieve their desired effect. Although their stories were and are a great source of entertainment they hold deeper meanings, which shouldn’t go unnoticed. They have managed to satisfy readers of their time, as well as people of the 21st century.
