Compare Atmosphere Is Created In The Signalman Essay Example

sense of evil, immorality, and mystery as the reader questions how he acquired this deformity, leading to unease. This is similar to The Signalman where an unusual looking stranger appears without purpose, catching the signalman's attention, who has been seeing ghosts in the same spot. The signalman's fixed attention towards the gentleman is only explained later on.

Both writers establish a fitting mystery setting for their stories to unfold. However, the physical descriptions of the environments are also crucial, as evidenced in The Signalman. The entrance to the lengthy tunnel is described as "extremely deep" and "unusually precipitous," creating an atmosphere of another realm or a "dark and gloomy dungeon."

The writer of The Red Room has effectively conveyed the eerie atmosphere of the room through multiple elements. The description of the outside of the room with "shambling" on the steps outside and doors "creaked" adds to the unsettling feeling. However, it is not just external factors that contribute to the aura, as the inhabitants' behavior adds to the sense of mystery with their "bright and inflamed" eyes and advanced age. It is clear that they have never been anywhere else and know all the "secrets" of the house. The old residents being "huddled" around the fire creates a sensation of coldness, insinuating that the house is also "possessed," as mentioned by the man with the withered arm. Along with tension, age is also a factor as it is stated in both stories.

The ways in which the writers of the nineteenth century described new inventions and the railway system, as well as a mysterious object, evoke a sense of terror and mystery. Dickens' The Signalman presents a

man who is curious about the workings of the new marvels of the nineteenth century and becomes friendly with the signalman who still believes in supernatural forces at work. This contrast between old and new thought is amplified by the setting of The Signalman being in a "long deep strip" suggesting an escape from the material world. Similarly, The Red Room describes a house surrounded by the "cold darkness of the moors" with one of its doors leading to an "outer surface" as depicted through the "echoing of the stair". Both stories portray old objects bringing people together yet with differing views on supernatural forces.

The purpose of including "open fires" and "flickering candles" in The Red Room and The Signalman was to create suspense and to bring characters together. In The Red Room, the fire brings the protagonist salvation and hope when all other lights are extinguished by a supernatural force. Similarly, in The Signalman, the two characters use the fire to relax and create a sense of safety. Both stories end with the death of a character who believed in rational thought, suggesting a move away from this way of thinking. This theme is first seen in The Signalman, where the titular character dies on the railway as predicted by ghostly gestures warning him of danger.

The phrase "I put this arm before my eyes not to see" is paired with "all gestures being repeated." The Red Room is introduced as a potential farce, but the protagonist's experience there reveals a "power of great darkness" and a "black fear." These stories take place in isolated locations, as illustrated by the remote castle housing the

Red Room and the cold, dark, subterranean passageway leading to it. This isolation is also evident in The Signalman, where the protagonist must cross large fields to reach the railway line. With no assistance nearby, the elderly characters huddle near the warmth of an open fire while the young duke navigates the castle alone.

Observing the signalman's reaction upon encountering an unfamiliar man, we can discern his lack of familiarity with human contact. He mistakenly perceives the presence as a "ghost's warning." The prevalence of reading materials, such as books on "simple fractions," serves as evidence of his infrequent visitors. Additionally, his education suggests potential for upward social mobility, yet he remains stationary in his current social status. This enigmatic aspect prompts the reader to ponder the reason behind his decision to not depart, despite the foreboding presence of ghosts and work-related accidents. Both stories create tension in distinctive ways, cultivating an effective aura.

Both Charles Dickens and H. G. Wells effectively use language to engage readers. Dickens uses twists in his writing to create a sense of anxiety, while Wells opts for a faster approach which, in my opinion, is more enjoyable for readers.