The Red Room by H.G. Wells Essay -- Red Room Wells Essays

The Red Room by H.G. Wells The title 'The Red Room' immediately attracts the reader's attention; it is symbolic but leaves unanswered questions. ?What is the red room Is this room dangerous? Overall the title raises so much curiosity wanting us to read on and find answers to our questions. Red is a very strong colour and is generally associated with blood, danger, warning, hell, and above all, fear, the title also shows the setting of the story. It makes you wonder why the room is called the red room and if it is actually red. The Red Room contains all the elements of a ghost story; the story is written to illustrate the nature of fear and is an insight into how it affects the human mind. This story contains all the features of a 19th century novel; it is set in an old derelict house, it involves moving through dark passages, and it involves a ghost/haunted room. It also contains all the features of a good short story. It has an effective opening, a realistic setting, a limited number of believable characters and has a plot with a clear conflict, a plot that builds suspense, excitement, and the plot has a twist at the end. The story is structured to create and sustain suspense, from the very beginning right through to the climax of the story where the man is overcome by total darkness. The Red Room is based upon the myths concerning a haunted room within an old derelict castle. The story is told in first person, which makes it very personal and allows the reader to feel as if he/she were there. It is about a young man who volunteers to go and stay overnight in the ?Red Room?. The room is known to be haunted and there are many myths and legends about death that are brought up during the story.... ... when his fear has taken his sense of reasoning and he tries to leave the room and accidently knocks him out. When he finally wakes up the next morning he realises that there was nothing supernatural about the room but only peoples fear of the unknown. The story keeps the reader guessing right up to the end of the story. The answer is not particularly clear and does not provide the reader with a final, conclusive answer. This keeps the reader wondering about the story after he/she has read it. The story reveals that there is no ghost in the room, just one man?s battle with fear: ?There is no ghost at all; but worse, far worse?Fear!? This makes you question whether he would have injured himself if he had not been told about the ghost story at all by the old people. This still gives a sense of mystery about the room after the answer has been given.