The Use Of Suspense In The Painted Door By Sinclair Ross

Shocking plot twists, puzzling events, hidden clues- the vital components of every suspenseful story that provides thrill and captivates readers. These are exactly the components in Sinclair Ross’s short story that makes it so compelling and intriguing. The short story “The Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross is a perfect example of effective use of suspense due to the surprising plot twist and clever use of foreshadowing, thus building anticipation and immersing readers fully into the story. This is distinctly shown in the resolution of the story, the next day when John is discovered: “they found him...less than a mile from home.. On the palm, white even against its frozen whiteness, was a little smear of paint.” Throughout the exposition and even up to the climax of the story, readers have been lead on to think that John might staying at his father's home or would be home before nightfall, in spite of the storm, as he is clearly capable of withstanding strong storms while still returning home. However, when he is discovered frozen and dead with a revealing paint smear on his hand, this completely changes the story’s mood as well as the perception on Ann’s infidelity, changing from an amendable mistake to lifelong guilt and regret.

This change of perception and surprising cliffhanger ending fully reinforces the anticipation of the story as reader’s piece together clues and realize the unexpected truth – that John had in fact seen Ann with Steven. Moreover, a key foreshadowing incident occurs in the exposition of the story, when Ann is talking to herself about her wishes and ponders on an experience with Steven: “Once she had danced with Steven six or seven times in the evening, and they had talked about it for as many months”. This quotation clearly describes the wrongful, hidden emotions between Ann and Steven and foreshadows that these ‘secret’ feelings would be revealed in a way that ultimately will cause Ann to be remorseful. This quotation can also serve as indirect characterization for Ann, revealing her as timid and emotional, further adding tension and suspense as according to her characteristics, there is doubt in her ability to make important decisions on her own. To conclude, the short story “The Painted Door” by Sinclair Ross uses suspense effectively due to its unpredictable ending and skillful use of foreshadowing, consequently creating tension in the story and drawing readers into the suspenseful plot. This story has the perfect balance of emotional turmoil, revealing clues and suspense, gradually building anticipation and drawing readers in until the horrifying ending, where readers are once again, captivated by suspense.