The Napoleon And The Spectre Essay Example

narrator's complacency exposes the incompetence of the older generation, reflecting their views.

The confirmation of the old people's abilities is portrayed through the entry of a more elderly man who is even more bent, wrinkled and aged than the first. The use of the discrepancy technique is employed to highlight their capabilities, and the narrator's mocking tone is evident when he sarcastically repeats their words, such as "it's your own choosing" and "It's my own choosing." However, the narrator gradually begins to question his initial judgement once again.

Fear of the dark, inherent in the environment, affects the protagonist. Additionally, both "Red Room" and "Signalman" employ imaginative language to suggest fanciful ideas. Christianity played a crucial role in Victorian society, but its status was threatened as the century progressed. Charles Darwin's theory of "natural selection" suggested that organisms benefit from profitable changes.

Incompatibility between the theory of evolution and Christianity is a belief held by many. H. G. Wells wrote a story about this debate, where the impulsive narrator symbolizes a Darwinist who presents facts and evidence on a journey to insanity, while foolishly rejecting the guardian's basic faith. 'The Monkey's Paw' and 'Napoleon and the Spectre' are mystery stories that use the paranormal realm to critique certain aspects of society and punish specific individuals.

The name of the story, "The Monkey's Paw," may represent the longing for vengeance felt by the Asian continent that was subdued by the British Empire. It could also be a metaphor for the partitioning of India, which was torn apart. The word 'monkey' signifies foreign, powerful, and exotic, making it fitting for India's mysterious and exotic image. Furthermore, the

term 'paw' suggests violence and dismemberment since it pertains to a part of an animal. By cursing the object, the fakir punishes those who attempt to meddle with destiny or obtain more than they deserve. Unfortunately, their punishment leads to the demise of their child.

Although oriental religions believed in destiny, most followers of Christianity in Britain did not share this belief. In the story of Napoleon and the Spectre, Napoleon encounters a supernatural creature that persuades him to confront political crimes in the streets of Paris. The 'ghost' has a similar name to a French General named Pichegru, who Napoleon allegedly murdered. Napoleon's courage led him to go on this tour, but he also felt compelled to follow the ghost's authority and attractive invitation to "seek more." However, in doing so, Napoleon receives criticism for his past offenses.

In contrast to the Monkey's Paw, where a strong sense of cause and effect is evident, Napoleon and the Spectre lacks such clarity. Despite this, all four stories feature an unreliable narrator assuming different roles. The first-person perspective characterizes The Red Room and The Signalman, whereas The Monkey's Paw and Napoleon and the Spectre are written in third person, presenting a marked differential in descriptive style.

When the narrator writes in the first person, they become more emotionally connected to the story, including fear of the supernatural. However, writing in third person can make the story seem simpler and less sentimental. Nevertheless, exaggerated language is present in all of the novellas. In both "The Signalman" and "The Red Room," the narrators start off skeptical but eventually become fearful believers.

While the narrator in 'The Signalman' approached the Signalman

scientifically, the narrator in 'The Red Room' actively participates in strange events. Thus, the narrator in 'The Signalman' is less directly involved compared to the narrator in 'The Red Room'. Due to his upbringing, the narrator of 'The Signalman' is less inclined to believe in such bizarre occurrences. As a result, his arguments against the supernatural hold more weight than those in 'The Red Room', where the events have been directly experienced. This distinction is thanks to H. G. Wells's skilled writing.

The viewpoint of Wells can be considered flawed and him untrustworthy. This is supported by the situation in which the narrator is at a loss for words, indicating that not all the answers are available. Conversely, the narrator in 'The Signalman' is deemed more trustworthy as there is evidence to support the events. Charlotte Bronte and W.

The ideas of W. Jacobs do not raise questions about the supernatural and their trustworthiness is not in doubt. Their novellas revolve around the curse of its power, with minimal reflection unlike The Signalman and The Red Room where there is a deeper struggle. The landscapes enhance the emotions of the scene and diverse authorial techniques are applied in these mystery stories.

Charles Dickens' portrayal of the railway cutting creates an eerie atmosphere and a sense of supernaturalism. The narrator struggles to descend from the cutting which intensifies the tension and creates a feeling of uncertainty. The quote, "The cutting was extremely deep, and unusually precipitate. It was made through a clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter as I went down," evidences this unease. The adjectives 'oozier' and 'clammy stone' emphasize the unpleasantness of the isolated

location, while the use of adverbs such as 'unusually precipitate' emphasizes the vastness of the setting.

Moreover, it indicates its importance and emphasizes the boring routine of the Signalman's life through Charles Dickens' use of repetitive infinitives, such as "to change."

. The objective is to cut down or reduce something.

Once again in the Red Room, the gothic setting is described using eerie words. Describing the "long, draughty subterranean passage" as "chilly and dusty" exemplifies how the darkness within the stories starts to prey on our innate fears. The dimness of the location represents the unknown, with H.G. Wells utilizing personification in this instance.

There is a sense of desperation conveyed through verbs like "thrust" which attest to the overwhelming power of the supernatural that has taken hold of the protagonist. The rational and the supernatural are portrayed as embattled through the use of numbers like "once, twice, thrice." In both The Monkey's Paw and Napoleon and the Spectre, the narrators intentionally withhold information in order to heighten suspense and mystery. Moreover, in Napoleon and the Spectre, the mysterious landscape operates under a distinct set of rules where walls cannot simply vanish as they might in the ordinary world.

In order to add authenticity to the story, Charlotte Bronte incorporates small portions of French throughout. Unlike other stories that are set in haunted houses, the Monkey's Paw begins in a cheerful domestic setting. However, the bleak weather and remote location contribute to a sinister tone that can be unsettling. As the General remains unwilling to disclose the granted wishes, a sense of unease is further generated.

The General demonstrates his wisdom about the 'monkeys paw' and advises the

family on its potency, evoking pathos in W.W. Jacobs' narrative. Despite the father's contentment with life, he hesitates to make wishes which he ultimately disregards. "The first man had his three wishes."

It is unclear what the first two were for, but the third was specifically related to death.

The parents' torment is reflected in the ominous foreshadowing of the death of their son, as indicated by the word grouping of "resignation, apathy, weeping." The representative from the company delivers the news of their son's passing in a formal, cold, and non-emotional language, stating, "The firm wish me to convey their sincere sympathy with you in your great loss." This event leads to a role reversal between the two parents.

The mother, who was once carefree, now desires to revive her cherished son. The possibility of encountering unexplainable things can result in harm and disfigurement. This is chiefly illustrated in 'The Red Room' tale. As the story progresses, the writer becomes increasingly emotionally susceptible and experiences a feeling of being embarrassed by the supernatural events. The narration utilizes hubris as a literary device, representing overconfidence before suffering humiliation.

The phrase "I was almost frantic with the horror of the coming darkness, and my self-possession deserted me" reveals the loss of dignity experienced by the narrator. Additionally, "I bruised myself on the thigh against the table" serves as evidence that the narrator's encounters with darkness have left physical bruises on him, possibly metaphorical of his mental injuries. Falling to the floor displays the author's humility towards the experience and dismissiveness of elderly people's simple faith in the supernatural. The narrator seems to have grown old, taking on

a retrospective character similar to theirs. In essence, the mystery genre brings forth diverse themes in relation to everyday life.

The Monkey's Paw, The Red Room, The Signalman, Napoleon and the Spectre all address different aspects of human beliefs and societal flaws. While The Monkey's Paw questions the concept of fate, The Red Room and The Signalman challenge rationality. On the other hand, Napoleon and the Spectre critique the appalling reality of a society where the commandment "one shall not commit murder" is broken.