An Analysis Of Arthur's 'Christmas Eve'
Initially, the chapter title ‘Christmas Eve’ infers celebratory and joyous occasion, and opens with an account of the protagonist having participated in a peaceful meal with his family.
But as Arthur’s inability to enjoy the pleasant night is addressed by the use of pathetic fallacy (words such as ‘chilling’ and ‘mist’ evoking emotional bitterness as Arthur himself comments upon his conventional reliance on weather to convey his mood) we discover how unsettled he has become due to the disturbing loss of his wife, and the reader feels as though Arthur’s past is still affecting his life largely.
The author implements foreshadowing (“I was one who had been haunted and who had suffered – not the only one, but surely I thought the only one left
alive,”), using words such as haunted and suffered to build upon the tension already established by the protagonist’s prior poor fortunes.
Juxtaposition is prevalent in the opening chapter and intensely builds tension; the contrasts inferred by ghost stories among a warm Christmas setting, words such as ‘collapsed’ suggesting death and ‘ghoulish’ implicating the malevolent supernatural.
But as Arthur’s inability to enjoy the pleasant night is addressed by the use of pathetic fallacy (words such as ‘chilling’ and ‘mist’ evoking emotional bitterness as Arthur himself comments upon his conventional reliance on weather to convey his mood) we discover how unsettled he has become due to the disturbing loss of his wife, and the reader feels as though Arthur’s past is still affecting his life largely.
The author implements foreshadowing (“I was one who had been haunted and who had suffered – not the only one, but surely I thought the only one left
alive,”), using words such as haunted and suffered to build upon the tension already established by the protagonist’s prior poor fortunes.
Juxtaposition is prevalent in the opening chapter and intensely builds tension; the contrasts inferred by ghost stories among a warm Christmas setting, words such as ‘collapsed’ suggesting death and ‘ghoulish’ implicating the malevolent supernatural.