Chapter 3 Essay

Submitted By snooky2502
Words: 680
Pages: 3

In chapter 3, The Journey North, how does Hill’s description of the train journey from London to Crythin Gifford prepare the reader for what is to come in the novel?
In chapter 3, Arthur travels north to Crythin Gifford where a man comes to his compartment and introduces himself as Samuel Daily who shows some interest in the Drablow file but Arthur pretty much ignores him. Hill instantly makes the reader suspicious by the cheerful tone to the journey up north especially after the fog in chapter 2 which is already making the reader suspicious of what is to come.
Towards the start of the chapter on page 34 Arthurs states that he begins to feel less comfortable which is a contrast to the previous train which was described as “all was as cosy and enclosed as a lamp lit study.” Arthur says on this second train, which is called Sir Bedivere (one of Arthurs knights, makes reader suspicious) “I began to be less comfortable, for here the air was a great deal colder and blowing in gusts from the east with an unpleasant rain upon its breath”. Susan Hill indicates that Arthur is travelling towards an inhospitable place and the personification/pathetic fallacy are used to imply that the weather is really getting to him and is in fact tormenting him. The fact he calls the air a “great deal colder” indicates that there might be a ghostly presence to come.
When Arthur is talking about Mrs Drablow, there is a “moan of the wind, and a faint hiss of steam.” This instantly makes the reader become curious and suspicious. This is how nature responds to her being talked about. A hiss is normally associated as an expression of disapproval. It’s almost like the nature doesn’t like Mrs Drablow being mentioned up this way.
Arthur asks Daily if he is going to start telling him stories about lonely houses but Daily “gave [him] a straight look” it is evident that he does not know how to respond. Should he tell Arthur what is clearly on his mind (about the woman in black) or not. The fact he had a long pause before answering is foreshadowing because the reader instantly knows he’s holding information back. The reader becomes increasingly concerned that Arthur is not picking up these little clues about there being something more about Crythin Gifford that he is not aware of. In addition to this the fact the place is “isolated” meaning it is far from other places and is in the middle of nowhere makes readers become wary and unsure of what is to