Comparing ‘The monkeys paw’ and ‘The red room’ Essay Example

limited transportation options meant people had limited understanding of other cultures and lifestyles across the globe. This mysteriousness is further heightened by the fact that the stranger deliberately withholds information.

The soldier hastily dismissed the idea of anything worth mentioning, cautioning against its use and suggesting sensible wishes instead. He warned of dire consequences and W.W. Jacobs effectively creates a sense of horror through terrifying noises such as the sound of a door banging upstairs and a shuddering cry.

The author also utilizes silence as a powerful tool to frighten readers and heighten tension, creating an unsettling and unusual silence. Mixed emotions are portrayed by the family, with wild cries about the paw, hysterical mentions of it being the monkey's paw, rapid responses about the remaining wishes, and the acknowledgment of having only used one. This section further contributes to a sense of horror with the panic exhibited by the mother.

Right from the beginning, it is known that tragedy will unfold in this tale without knowing exactly when. This aspect is what captivates readers and makes "The Monkey's Paw" a successful novel that compels them to continue reading.

The climax of the story occurs when the mother and father hear a horrifying knocking at their door, revealing that it is their son who they have wished to come back from the dead. W. W. Jacobs enhances the suspense and horror by describing the sequence of knocks: "a knock...... the knock was repeated...... a third knock was sounded. There was another knock and another...... a perfect fusillade of knocks." This description sends shivers down the reader's spine, creating a more dramatic and impactful ending compared to just

plain, forceful knocking.

The Red Room, written by H. G. Wells in the pre 20th century, is a chilling tale about a man who chooses to visit a haunted castle and venture into a room rumored to be haunted. Throughout his journey, he encounters enigmatic occurrences, such as peculiar cries, screams, and noises, as well as the sighting of haunting shadows. As the story nears its conclusion, the narrator experiences a sudden collapse, losing consciousness, only to awaken the following day with the realization that fear had been the cause of his hallucinations and auditory illusions. In the opening section of The Red Room story ,the writer skillfully crafts an atmosphere of intrigue and suspense.

The author provides details about the setting, specifically mentioning "the castle in which the young duke had died," hinting at its potential haunting. Two peculiar characters are introduced: one with "withered eyes" and another described as an old man with shaded eyes, averted lower lip, and pale pink complexion. These odd characters add to the mysterious atmosphere, which is further heightened by the narrative perspective. Through this narration style, readers can immerse themselves in the story. The narrator receives cautionary advice from these strange individuals regarding the red room, including warnings such as "it's your own choosing" and "this night of all nights."

In the story, H. G. Wells effectively maintains a sense of mystery by foreshadowing a tragic event without revealing when it will occur. This is achieved through the use of personifications, such as "a shadow came sweeping up after me," "impression of someone crouching to waylay me," and "a lurking, living thing." The author skillfully conveys a feeling of horror

by employing emotive vocabulary in certain parts of the story, such as "with a cry of terror" and "it was like a ragged storm cloud sweeping the stars."

Moreover, Wells creates an eerie atmosphere by utilizing sounds and silence. For instance, the echoes reverberated up and down the spiral staircase, while at other times there was absolute silence. The description of the room also adds to the suspense and horror. The sombre reds and blacks troubled the protagonist, and the flickering light caused shadows to constantly shift and stir, creating an impression that they were alive and moving.

Furthermore, Wells reveals the intense emotions experienced by the narrator. For example, "my hands trembled so much that twice I missed the rough paper of the matchbox." This allows readers to be more immersed in the story.

I was satisfied with the conclusions of the novels. Ending such wonderful stories with those endings couldn't have been improved. I think that if "The Monkey's Paw" or "The Red Room" were released in our era, they wouldn't have achieved the same level of success because contemporary readers are less inclined to believe in superstitions compared to those in the past. In that period, candles served as the sole sources of illumination, making darkness a significant worry and instilling fear among individuals.

In modern times, the ability to illuminate a dark location is easily achieved by flipping a switch or using a flashlight. However, in the past, people relied on candles for lighting, which were not very reliable as they could be easily extinguished by the wind. The houses of that time were spacious and empty and decorated with oak paneling. They had large

open fires. This portrayal of a "typical old family house" can be observed in documentaries about life in the early 20th century, including the monkeys show. It's important to note that during this period, there were significant divisions between affluent and impoverished communities. Additionally, safety conditions in industrial factories were extremely inadequate and primitive.

People were extremely superstitious, filled with terror for ghosts, demons, and other entities associated with Satan and the darkness. Both W. W. Jacobs and H. G. Wells effectively exploited this motif, infusing their respective horror novels with a chilling atmosphere. While these two novels would have been utterly petrifying a century ago, I personally found them uninteresting, monotonous, and occasionally pitiful. This is because the concept of darkness, demons, and all that is associated with it fails to evoke fear within me.