Woman in Black

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THE WOMAN IN BLACK

By Susan Hill

The differences between the humans characters and the ghost

Introduction

In this essay I will critically evaluate five main aspects between being human

and a ghost in the novel, ’The Woman in Black‘. I will cover the differences

within: relationships, methods of interaction, appearance, movements and

emotions.  I will evidence how the author portrays the human characters and

the ghost and to also draw upon the dog Spider, all of which are used to

enhance the atmosphere and feelings within her novel.  

Relationships

There are several relationship differences between the ghost and the

humans.  This is shown in the opening chapter by Arthur as he describes his

affection for his second wife Esme, and states ‘I would not have wished for

anything to ruffle the surface of that calm, untroubled sea’.   The author has

used this metaphor to strongly describe to the reader how happy and fulfilled

Arthur is within his life.  

In chapter three, Arthur meets with a stranger, Mr Daily. They converse and,

through this interaction, they realise they have a connection with the

deceased, Mrs Drablow.  Arthur establishes that he may be the only one at

the funeral when Mr Daily mentioned that Mrs Drablow lived alone and may

have made her ‘grow eccentric’.  Arthur being a rational man expresses

‘you’re not going to start telling me strange tales of lonely houses?’, Mr Daily

tells him ‘No ……. I am not.’  The reader may well be thinking that something

sinister has been implied and that Arthur will have to find out for himself the

implications behind Mr Daily’s response.

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In contrast to this, during chapter four, Arthur has his first sighting of the

woman in black in the graveyard. She is far away from the others during the

funeral and is ‘quite alone‘ making contact with no one. At first Arthur feels

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she is a sickly character and needs assistance, not realising who she really

is.   The author is careful not to give too much away at this point, but you get

a sense of ‘between worlds’, as Arthur looks up to see a ‘blackbird on the

holly bush‘ he then turns to find the woman in black has gone.  She does not

draw attention to herself, as she disappears ‘just as unobtrusively as she had

arrived’.  She was still and quiet and did not communicate verbally, but she

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