How Does Susan Hill Explore the Theme Supernatural?

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Susan Hill explores the theme of supernatural throughout the novel through the setting, imagery and the use of language. ‘The Woman in Black’ is a ghost story, therefore the idea of supernatural is essential throughout for the novel to work. Hill explores the theme to frighten and entertain, so that the audience can enjoy the ghost novel. The opening chapter to the novel provides the main introduction of not only the novel but also the theme of supernatural. In it the idea of a traditional ghost story is suggested which shows us forewarning for the rest of the novel. A ghost story relies on atmosphere, often shown through weather and the gothic genre. The weather is a huge signal throughout the novel, which is used as a signal to when terrible things are about to happen. For example, the nine lives causeway is described as ‘submerged and untraceable’, this suggests that Eel Marsh house is miserable and that everything is hidden. From this the reader can see that Susan Hill has explored the theme by creating it as a forewarning through the weather and setting. The climax of the supernatural is when Arthur Kipps’ son and wife die on a pony and trap, after they hit a tree when a ghost steps out in front of the pony. This is because Kipps is forced to witness the death of his loved ones, due to the actions of The Woman in Black. This explores the theme as it suggests to the reader that if Kipps had not seen The Woman in Black then his family would not have died. It implies that it only happened because ghost’s can create all sorts of unnatural things and therefore Arthur Kipps is being haunted for noticing the ghost. This climax in the novel explores supernatural as it links to how Jennet Humpfy (the Woman in Black) witnessed the drowning of her son. Therefore, all the reasons to supernatural links in to the psychological impact to death and fear upon the woman in
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