The Body Snatcher Essay Example

The Body Snatcher Essay A gruesome story about Fettes and Macfarlane dissecting dead bodies at a medical university. Fettes is troubled when he realises the bodies have been murdered, he tells Macfarlane about what he thinks but Macfarlane pays no attention. Fettes is pushed to follow his career and neglects his conscience. Gray is introduced in to the story and seems to have control over Macfarlane; Gray embarrasses him and makes him pay for the bill. Later that night a new body is brought to them and it appears to be Grey. Fettes is suspicious that Macfarlane had killed him and is not sure what to do. Again he doesnt act and follows his career. Fettes and Macfarlane dig up a dead body in the graveyard. On their way back they realise the body had changed to someone elses. They then checked the bodys face and it some how was the body of Gray. In the opening paragraph the reader is introduced to Fettes and the undertaker, the landlord. We are told that Fettes is a drunken Scotchman and a man of education, he drinks five glasses of rum a night. This makes the reader wonder why Fettes drinks so much. We have the impression that he may be depressed. We will write a custom essay sample on The Body Snatcher specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Body Snatcher specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Body Snatcher specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The reader isnt told much information Fettes and why he drinks to excess that creates suspense. We are later told that Fettes has medical knowledge, may therefore have been a doctor, but what had happened to make him in the state he is now, the reader slightly may think it had something to do with his career. A man had become sick and a doctor had been called, Fettes later finds out that the doctor who is on his way to the pub is Dr Macfarlane. Fettes repeats Macfarlane twice with a sense of deep emotion; it is now obvious that Fettes knows Macfarlane but how does he? The readers ask themselves what could be the link between Fettes and Macfarlane; this creates suspense because the reader is bewildered. Conan Doyle uses the same method to create apprehension. The mention of Macfarlane instantly makes Fettes sober and so it must have been a terrible shock for him. Fettes talks about the rum and sin, which shows, on his face, the reader does not understand what he means and become intrigued. It seems that he is hiding something; this makes the reader frustrated by not knowing what he is talking about. The night is a dark winter night that creates a gloomy atmosphere. Macfarlane is described to have the finest broad clothe, whitest of linen, a great gold watch chain and speckles of the same precious material whilst Fettes is described as bald, dirty, pimpled and robed in his old cloak. The reader notices that the two men are completely opposite; Macfarlane is portrayed as the rich and highly respected doctor whereas Fettes is thought as of a tramp who is unemployed and an alcoholic. Fettes is at the bottom of the stars when Macfarlane is at the top, this symbolically gives the idea to the reader that Macfarlane is at a higher class and status and Fettes is at the bottom. Fettes refers to Macfarlane as Toddy. The few silent seconds that Macfarlane had until he noticed who it was, creates a tense atmosphere. The scared face of Macfarlane also adds to the tension. They seem to not be pleased with one another Macfarlane tries to quieten down Fettes as if they have a big secret. The reader is told that Fettes was given money from Macfarlane but he cast it in the rain, this is a powerful metaphor that shows his feeling towards the money, it implies that the money was dirty. Fettes informs us that God allowed Macfarlane to live this gives a thought that Macfarlane had cheated death or should be dead. Macfarlane dashed towards the door when Fettes asked have you seen it again? The reader is left with many of unanswered questions, why is Macfarlane so eager to get away? And what is it? To add to the tense situation, Macfarlane panics and urgently exits. The mention and reminder of it caused him to become petrified. The reader now understands that it had a big influence on Fettes and Macfarlanes lives. The landlord had heard of their conversation, Fettes warns him by saying that Macfarlane is not safe to cross and those who have, repented too late. Louis Stevenson affectively uses the same method to try to create suspense. Fettes only drank three glasses of rum that night instead of his usual five glasses, it is obvious to the reader that this encounter with Macfarlane had disturbed him and brought back things from the past, which Fettes wish hed forgotten about. The narrator of Fettes past describes how the foul and unnatural event of Fettes past is going to be revealed. This leaves the reader with a feeling of anticipation. We are told about Mr K we are not told his real name in order to protect his identity. He is described as the meteorically famous man. The fact that we are not told much about Mr K gives a mysterious impression of him and a sort of conspiratorial character, this makes the reader anxious to know who he really is this, therefore adding to the suspense in the story. Now the writer introduces that Fettes would help cut up the dead bodies and would have been woken up in the night to do so. Now the reader finds the link of the title The Body Snatcher. Fettes is spending his nights with dead bodies, this is an unusual thing, which a person would do, and it may have affected Fettes psychologically. Macfarlane advised Fettes not to ask questions when buying the bodies for conscience sake, the reader now understands that the bodies supplied were probably murdered, so it creates suspense since the bodies have been murdered, the police might catch them. We are told the body snatchers were more eager than usual to be gone; the reader asks why they are eager. This produces a tense atmosphere that something even more abnormal had happened. Fettes notices that the body is Jane Galbraith, a person whom he knows. He is able to identify that she had marks on her body that might well be from violence. He is unable to deny the truth and panics; this creates anxiety since the reader is not sure what Fettes will do, will he keep quiet? or tell the police? He then asks his superior Wolfe Macfarlane what to do. Macfarlane was then looked highly upon of as he is now. Fettes and Macfarlane are told to be very good friends with each other, but what had caused their friendship to be over? Fettes and Macfarlane would dig up bodies from the graveyard to dissect them. Fettes showed Macfarlane the marks on her body and he responded by saying that it looked a little bit odd. Fettes is really concerned and doesnt know what to do. He is told again to keep quiet about the marks on the body. Fettes once again bottle up his feelings and dissected the girl, and all the evidence was now gone. The author shows us a man Gray whom Macfarlane was obeying, the reader is bewildered that why is Macfarlane obeying this man? It gives the feeling that he is taking advantage of Macfarlane because he may know something about Macfarlane that he wants to keep secret. The fact that this man has control over Macfarlane gives a sense of a surreptitious and mystifying atmosphere. Macfarlane was servant like. The stranger calls Macfarlane Toddy, which he doesnt seem to like, this stresses that the man has control over Macfarlane. He is able to command Macfarlane to settle the bill. Fettes is awoken from his sleep early in the morning and Macfarlane waits with a body. Fettes was staggered that Macfarlane had killed and brought Gray to be dissected. It was obvious that Macfarlane murdered Gray but Fettes kept quiet. Fettes has no choice, he cannot tell anyone otherwise it will ruin his career and is suspicious that if he argues with Macfarlane he may be the next body on the dissecting table. This creates suspense because the reader doesnt know who will be murdered next. Macfarlane clearly explains to Fettes that if he holds his tongue no harm will come. Macfarlane tries to persuade Fettes not to say anything and compliments his abilities. Days later Macfarlane and Fettes set out to dig up a freshly buried body. The graveyard has a dark atmosphere, the body was buried by six cedar trees, the specific number of six was chosen by the author to give a dark and grim atmosphere because the number six is known as the devils number. It began to rain heavily and the reader is able to get a clear image of what its like. The weather portrays their mood and emphasises the generally tense mood. The fact that it was pitch dark and no sound but that of their own passage stimulates tension, the darkness gives a ghostly atmosphere. The gates are described as being white; this gain gives a ghostly feeling. The moving shadows heightens the creepy and unpredictable feeling; this gives a mysterious and paranormal atmosphere. The fact that Fettes and Macfarlane were digging up dead bodies in a graveyard gives a sense of insecurity. Macfarlane had carelessly flung a stone, which had announced the bounding of the lantern down the bank, and now the night fell upon them. This is the peak of suspense. They carried on digging in darkness, this produces and edgy and tense atmosphere. They carry the dead body on their shoulders, which is a very disturbing thing for a person to do and they clearly are distressed about the whole situation. Macfarlane tries to lighten up the atmosphere by and ill favoured jest about the farmers wife but there was just cold silence, this demonstrates how much of a tense atmosphere it is. Louis Stevenson uses the dogs howling to give a spooky feeling and to hint that something is about to happen, so it creates suspense and the reader is uncertain what is going to happen. Since it was raining heavily it made the outline of the body underneath the bag, this shows how much of a terrifying experience it must have been for Fettes and Macfarlane. They are described as being motionless and they tightened the white skin on the faces, this emphasises how much of a shock it is for them and how they are horrified. Macfarlane notices that its not a woman, and Fettes replies that it was a woman. An incredibly tense atmosphere is created. The reader is fascinated and drawn into the story even more. The author doesnt reveal the identity of the body until the last moment, thereby keeping the tense atmosphere. The panic of the horse and the lamp being smashed emphasises the shocking twist at the end, it was Grays body. The reader is wondering how did the body get there? It leaves the reader thinking for reasons. Louis Stevenson leaves the reader feeling uncertain as to what had just happened, which leaves the reader frustrated and confused. Therefore he is successful in creating suspense and tension in the story and maintains it all through the story.