The Success of The Woman in Black as a Ghost Story Essay -- The Woman

The Success of The Woman in Black as a Ghost StorySusan agglomerate believes that the ghost depends on atmosphere and asense of place. However, a believable story fund and characters doeshelp bring out the atmosphere and place. The Woman in Black is abouta man, Arthur Kipps. He is the narrator throughout the novel. ArthurKipps tells his most haunting revelation that had happened to him, andhow by writing his story as a novel, it was hoping to help turf outthe ghost that still haunts him. He tells the story of when he was ajunior solicitor and, how he was ordered by his firms partner totravel up from capital of the United Kingdom to attend a funeral and then sort out the papersof the dead woman. While in Crythin Gifford he glimpses a young womanwith a atrophied face, dressed all in black. He sees her at the back ofthe church during Mrs Drablows funeral, and again later in thegraveyard to one side of Eel Marsh House. He is the only one thatappears to see her. However, soon the lady in black slowly revealsherself to him, as is her purpose.The first passage is extracted from the chapter Across the Causeway.The first sighting that Arthur Kipps has with the woman in black is inthe churchyard after Mrs Drablows funeral. Susan Hill picks the rightplace to have Arthur Kipps first sighting of the woman in black. Shehas the setting in a churchyard. When the reader comes acrosschurchyard you get the image of fear and decay. Using this SusanHill goes into describing the churchyard in detail Ahead, where thewall ended in a visual modality of dust and rubble, lay the grey water of theestuary. Susan Hill makes the image very precise. She also usesdistinct contrast, across the tall grasses, and wild flowers ofwhite and ... ...the question Arthur is asking himself why is it rocking? He isasking himself as well as the reader. someone has just got out ofit However Arthur is the only one in the house. There is a sense ofunease as the windows are all closed so no one can get ou t. Susan Hillmakes the readers ask themselves questions why? Who could it be? Shekeeps the reader in suspense.Susan Hill Believes that a good ghost story depends on theatmosphere and a sense of place. There are many points which agood ghost story should have unfamiliarity, a mystery, description andmuch more. However I personally believe that without a believablecharacters and storyline there is no basis of having atmosphere or asense of place. So overall, yes a ghost story does depend onatmosphere and a sense of place but it must contain a believablestory line with characters.