Both The Signalman and The Darkness Out There have unexpected endings Essay Example

atmosphere of the area is emphasized by the presence of ghosts of a deceased German air crew. According to reports, their voices can still be heard on radios emanating from the trees, which creates a disturbing and unsettling feeling. In the following paragraph, the girl's realization that this is a dangerous location is emphasized by her sudden thoughts of helmeted heads with vacant eyes staring at her from within the branches.

She is so scared of the place that she wouldn't enter it even for a large sum of money, especially in broad daylight. Her fear is evident in her reluctance to have any involvement with it. Furthermore, she goes on to give a description of the place as being dilapidated with numerous brambles, woody saplings, a ditch containing a discarded mattress and bedframe, and an old refrigerator. These characteristics are indicative of a neglected and unkempt alleyway.

In the paragraph, the author heightens the tension surrounding the image of death. They suggest that there may still be remnants of the deceased air crew, which is unnerving. This description creates a vivid and unsettling picture that nobody wants to experience. Packers End is characterized as a sinister and foreboding place, evoking children's fears of witches, wolves, and tigers. However, the protagonist's fear stems from more realistic dangers like rapists and attackers.

The overall atmosphere of Packer's End suggests that something negative will happen, involving Sandra and Packer's End. However, it turns out that the situation only pertains to Packer's End's past. Sandra continues her journey towards Mrs. Rutter's house, where she plans to participate in an assistance program for the elderly. As she approaches Packer's End, she decides

to increase her pace, indicating her fear. Suddenly, someone emerges from behind a hedge. Initially, we assume that Sandra is about to be attacked, until we discover that the "attacker" is actually Kerry Stevens, the other helper at Mrs.

Rutter's house. Kerry immediately establishes himself as a troublemaker, evident not only from his actions that frighten Sandra, but also in the way she describes him: 'Kerry Stevens, whom none of her friends esteemed highly, with his sleek black hair and narrow eyes.' Sandra's perception of Kerry creates anticipation, as readers expect him to cause trouble or create chaos in some capacity before the story concludes. This suspense intensifies as we speculate not just about what he will do, but also when he will do it. However, we later discover that he is completely different, prompting Sandra to change her opinion due to his response to Mrs.

Mrs. Rutter is initially portrayed as a typical 'dear' old lady who is very talkative and curious about Kerry and Sandra's lives. She is friendly and has a soft and inviting appearance. Her face is described as having multiple chins that collapse into one another, resembling a smiling pool. The word 'smiling' instantly evokes a friendly and warm visual image of her.

The description of Mrs. Rutter's house contributes to this feeling of her being an old woman, as it is filled with typical 'old woman style' things such as a collection of ornaments and a linoleum floor that has worn away in patches. Even the way she speaks reflects her elderly status, using pet names. However, there is also an element of eccentricity about her, as she immediately becomes very familiar

with Sandra. She jokingly remarks, 'There's only me too see if you're showing a bit of bum.' Mrs. Rutter is portrayed as a generic, slightly eccentric old woman, nothing extraordinary, nothing that would make you think 'oh, wait a minute!' There is nothing to indicate or prepare you for what actually happens.

We discover that 'nice old Mrs. Rutter' abandons a wounded German pilot, disregarding him for two consecutive nights. This behavior is particularly surprising given that she is generally regarded as harmless and exceptionally kind. Both Kerry and Sandra are also deceived by her pleasant and gentle demeanor, just as the reader is intended to be. Despite the pilot's severe injuries and miraculous survival from the initial incident, Mrs. Rutter, who had lost her own husband in the war, views this as an opportunity for revenge.

The text highlights how certain actions and statements made by Mrs. Rutter, such as her cheering as the plane went down and her remark of 'Bang go some more of the bastards', quickly reshape our perception of her. Now, she is perceived as wicked, filled with hatred, and potentially dangerous. This narrative serves as a reminder that forming judgments based solely on initial encounters is unwise since circumstances can change rapidly. In comparison to The Darkness Out There, The Signalman by Charles Dickens predates it. Right from the beginning, Dickens employs highly detailed descriptions to vividly portray the cutting in which the story unfolds, effectively setting the atmospheric tone.

The cutting is described as 'extremely deep, and unusually precipitous'. The use of more descriptive words is excellent as it allows us to visualize the scene in greater detail. The author describes

the presence of 'jagged rocks' and the 'clammy' and 'oozier' walls that are constantly dripping wet. The conditions are depicted as 'dismal', 'forbidding', and gloomy', creating a sense of foreboding. However, one word stands out and adds the most tension - 'deadly'. This word immediately makes us wonder about the potential dangers that lurk in the cutting.

The fact that someone has been living in such unpleasant conditions for a long time provides us with early insight into the character of the Signalman. He is vividly described as "a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows." This description instantly conjures an image of a rugged and weathered man. Furthermore, his appearance portrays him as solemn and primitive, suggesting that his mind may be preoccupied with something else.

He is perceived as lacking personality and not being cheerful, possibly due to spending most of his days in solitude. Initially, he comes across as unsettling due to his primitive appearance and lack of response to someone shouting at him from below. It makes one wonder if he has always been this way or if isolation has transformed him, which it turns out it has.

He had once been a student of natural philosophy and had attended lectures, but he had let himself go, wasted his opportunities, descended into a state of ruin, and never recovered. This signifies his self-inflicted punishment, as he deeply regrets squandering his chances and is now bearing the consequences. The description of the cutting, along with the presence of the sole person there, evokes an eerie and peculiar atmosphere. This prompts us to ponder about potential events, the peculiar circumstances, and an

unidentified man; what has already transpired or will occur? Right at the beginning of the story, the visitor exclaims "Halloa! Below There!" This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the narrative, emphasizing its significance that becomes clear later on. The signalman reacts nervously to those words, inquiring about what prompted the visitor to say them. This further unsettles the characters' relationship and underscores the importance of the sentence, yet we remain inquisitive as to why. Throughout their conversation, we observe both men's wariness towards each other; they appear curious about one another's behavior, words, and occupations.

Both characters in the story exhibit a sense of fear towards each other, leading readers to question the reasons behind this unease. Additionally, the Signalman's peculiar behavior, such as his fixation on a silent bell and his pale complexion, contributes to his already strange demeanor. Furthermore, he frequently ventures out into the gloomy surroundings, directing his gaze towards the tunnel at the cutting's end.

Suspense is created as we are intrigued by the peculiar behavior exhibited by the protagonist and his fixation on the bell. Throughout the narrative, the signalman and the visitor both mistakenly perceive each other as ghosts. The signalman believes the visitor to be the specter he sees at the tunnel's end, as the visitor's actions closely resemble those of the ghost, particularly when positioned at the top of the cutting. Conversely, the visitor deems the signalman a ghost due to his peculiar appearance and conduct. The majority of inquiries pertaining to these two individuals persist unanswered until the final moments of the story.

The suspenseful and anxiety-inducing nature of both stories lies in the unanswered questions surrounding the

ghost's identity, the potential threat posed by the signalman, their actions towards each other, and the purpose of the ghost's warning. By withholding these explanations until the conclusion, the sense of anticipation is maintained throughout the entire story. While there are similarities and differences between the two stories, such as the unexpected transformation of characters from their initial impressions and surprising endings, one notable contrast is seen in the revelation that the seemingly friendly old lady is actually a vengeful and morally questionable individual, as she made a conscious decision not to save a man's life simply because he was a German soldier.

Both Mrs. Rutter and the Signalman undergo a transformation throughout the stories, challenging the initial perceptions of their sanity. The Signalman, initially appearing deranged, proves to be accurate in his forebodings of a train-related disaster. However, he remains unable to fully grasp the details of this impending tragedy. Similarly, Mrs. Rutter's character evolves, leaving the reader to question their initial impression of her. These profound changes in personality leave one curious as to how these characters initially garnered the reader's trust.

I believe that tension is created by the significant changes in the two characters. Additionally, the detailed descriptions of the settings, Packer's End and The Cutting, contribute to a feeling of impending danger. These descriptions particularly caught my attention in "The Signalman," as the depiction of the cutting effectively established a eerie atmosphere that was further intensified by the events in the story.

Both "The Darkness Out There" and "The Signalman" successfully build suspense and tension through a combination of character traits and atmospheric descriptions. However, while "The Darkness Out There" effectively describes Packers

End and adds suspense, it could have been even scarier if the characters had actually explored the area. On the other hand, "The Signalman" is more interesting because it provides more extensive descriptions that make it easier to visualize. Despite their differences, both stories have tense and surprising endings that grip the reader.