The Little Stranger: Context & Writers Techniques

Context

Brief Biography of Sarah Waters

Early Life:

• Sarah Waters was born in Wales and later moved to Middlesbrough, England. Her father was an engineer, and her mother was a housewife. Waters wrote fiction casually as a child but did not consider a writing career until later in life.

Education:

• She received her BA from the University of Kent, an MA from Lancaster University, and a PhD from Queen Mary, University of London. Career:

• Waters began her writing career while working as an academic. Her first novel, Tipping the Velvet, was published in 1998. Known for exploring gender and sexuality, many of her novels feature gay and lesbian characters. The Little Stranger (2009) is her first novel to deviate from this pattern. Waters's works have received critical acclaim, and she was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to literature in 2019. She lives in London, continuing her writing career.

The Novel's History

• When and Where Written: The Little Stranger was written between 2006 and 2009.
• Publication: The novel was published in 2009.
• Initial Reception: The Little Stranger was critically acclaimed and shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

Literary Contexts

Historical and Political Context

• Post-War England: The novel is set in the late 1940s, a time of significant social and political change in England. The Labour government, led by Clement Attlee, introduced social reforms like the National Health Service and the National Insurance Act, which benefited lower-class citizens at the expense of the upper classes.
• Decline of the Aristocracy: The Ayers family, central to the novel, represents the declining British aristocracy struggling to maintain their status amid these societal changes. Their slow demise mirrors the broader shifts in English society during this period.

Cultural and Social Context

• Gothic Tradition: The Little Stranger is written in the Gothic novel tradition, which often features haunted settings and characters tormented by the past. Notable Gothic works include Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, Nathaniel Hawthorne's writings, and Shirley Jackson's stories.
• Influences: The novel's most obvious predecessor is Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, which also features a potentially haunted manor and an unreliable narrator. Waters cites Hilary Mantel's Eight Months on Ghazzah Street and Beyond Black as additional influences.

Philosophical, Religious, and Intellectual Ideas

• Psychological Unreliability: The novel delves into the psychological complexities of its characters, particularly the unreliable narrator, Dr. Faraday. This narrative approach invites readers to question the reality of the supernatural events described.
• Class and Social Change: The book explores themes of class struggle and social change, reflecting the impact of post-war reforms on the British aristocracy and the shifting social landscape.

Useful Concepts to Be Aware of in the Novel

• First-Person Narration: The story is narrated by Dr. Faraday, whose perspective shapes the readers' understanding of events. His reliability is constantly in question, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
• Gothic Elements: The novel employs classic Gothic elements, such as a haunted house, mysterious deaths, and an eerie atmosphere. These elements create a sense of suspense and horror.
• Symbolism: The dilapidated state of Hundreds Hall symbolizes the decline of the British aristocracy and the impact of societal changes on the upper class.
• Ambiguity: The novel's ambiguous ending leaves readers questioning the nature of the events—whether they are supernatural or psychological in origin.

Writer's Techniques

Structure and Plot

First-Person Narration

• The story is told from the perspective of Dr. Faraday, whose subjective viewpoint adds layers of ambiguity and unreliability.
• This choice of narrator helps maintain the mystery and allows readers to question the reality of the supernatural events.

Chronological Order with Flashbacks

• The plot progresses in a linear, chronological order but includes significant flashbacks to provide context and background information.
• These flashbacks are crucial in understanding the history of Hundreds Hall and the Ayres family, adding depth to the narrative.

Slow Pacing and Gradual Unfolding

• The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing tension and suspense to build gradually.
• This slow reveal keeps readers engaged and mirrors the growing unease and decay within Hundreds Hall.

Language and Style

Descriptive and Evocative Language

• Waters employs rich, descriptive language to create vivid images of Hundreds Hall and its surroundings.
• This detailed description enhances the Gothic atmosphere, emphasizing the house's decline and the haunting presence within it.

Period-Appropriate Diction

• The language used reflects the time period of post-war Britain, adding to the novel's authenticity.
• Characters' speech patterns and vocabulary are carefully crafted to fit their social standing and historical context.

Subtlety and Restraint

• The narrative style is marked by a subtle and restrained approach, avoiding overt horror in favor of psychological tension.
• This restraint makes the moments of supernatural and emotional intensity more impactful.

Symbols

Hundreds Hall

• The decaying mansion symbolizes the decline of the British upper class and the changing social order post-World War II.
• It also represents the past's inescapable grip on the present, with its physical and psychological decay mirroring the Ayres family's deterioration.

The Burn Mark

• A mysterious burn mark that appears on the walls of Hundreds Hall symbolizes the intrusive and destructive presence of past traumas and unresolved issues.
• It serves as a physical manifestation of the house's haunted history and the psychological scars of its inhabitants.

The Bell

• The bell, used to summon servants in the past, symbolizes the lingering presence of class divisions and the old social hierarchy.
• Its recurrent ringing without visible cause adds to the novel's supernatural and eerie atmosphere, highlighting the persistence of the past's influence.