The Red Room by H.G Wells and The Signalman by Charles Dickens Essay

The Red Room by H.G Wells and The Signalman by Charles Dickens `'The Red Room' by H.G Wells and 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens are two short stories set in the later 19th century ('The Red Room' 1896, 'The Signalman' 1860s). 'The Red Room' is a Gothic horror story while 'The Signalman' is a story containing many elements of Gothic horror from the earlier 19th century. They both mention the supernatural although 'The Signalman' is questioning it and 'The Red Room' is a story made to prove that there is no such thing as the supernatural. H. G Wells created fear and suspense in 'The Red Room' in many ways. He raises the suspense level mainly through the personalities of the three old custodians, with language, description and their actions. The man with the withered arm gives aid with increasing the suspense level with his repetitions of the phrase 'It's your own choosing.'. It is a warning repeated three times, an effect used in 'The Signalman as well. The repetitions of a phrase or an action three times is an element used by writers to increase fear and suspense because the number three is believed to be an unlucky number, although at that time when there was superstition and questions of witches and the supernatural, it would have given a much better effect. Wells also raises fear with the old woman always staring at the fire, 'the old woman sat staring hard into the fire, her pale eyes wide open.' And 'her eyes fixed steadily on the fire.' I have come to learn that that is because fire was a symbol of security at that time and in some cases today although now the television is the main symbol of security. On top of that, the description of the second old man is very strong and vivid and makes t... ... the story is different for each. 'The Signalman' is a lot slower than 'The Red Room' that jumps right into the excitement and suspense. Although the technique Dickens used also creates suspense because he makes the reader want to read on from the beginning to know the answers to enquiries created at the beginning of the story. In conclusion, I feel that suspense is mainly created through the dark and scary settings, awkwardness of the characters and the descriptions of the nerve wrecking situations that excite readers a lot. I think that 'The Signalman' is the most suspenseful story because 'The Red Room' is more exciting and thrilling than suspenseful and 'The Signalman' again I mention has so many questions that even people who finish the story still can't answer like how we are not sure whether or not the spectre actually exists or was it a vision.