The fragmented narrative structure of the Well, wherethe author's omniscient voice regular intrudes, is abundant in silences, ambiguities, and surprises, a characteristic feature of Jolley's fictions and a key element of a gothic genre. One morning when birds were echoing across the paddocks…Mr Harper having unsuccessfully made a partial change over to beef died. It is these sentences that causes the reader to feel bewildered by the inappropriateness of the information to which the sentence actually leads. The sentence starts with a lyrical description of na

The title of the novel, The Well and the well located on the cottage are key components of developing the gothic genre. This is because wells are commonly associated as remote, threatening and dark places that should be avoided. An example is the movie The Ring where the title represents the image of a well where a child was hidden. Furthermore in the novel Jolley has cleverly used the well to symbolise access of the imagination. It is near the well where Hester and Katherine imagines the future by peopling the well with trolls, imprisoned princesses, a handsome prince and finally the 'intruder.' "To amuse themselves they pretended that someone lived in the well. A troll with horrible anti-special habits…an imprisoned princess…prince on a white horse. The trolls are a connotation of the gothic genre as they are mystical creatures and have characteristics of the paranormal. The apparent intruder in the well is according to Katherine named Jacob and he therefore evokes another ambiguous intertwining of the bible and the gothic genre. This because in the Bible Jacob had 12 sons and one daughter his favourite being Joseph. When Joseph was 17 he was given a fine coat from his father, indicating that he was of better things. His brothers' jealousy soon changed to hatred and eventually they decided to slay Joseph by heaving him down a well.

ture but has little to do with the tragic event of Mr Harper's death. The flash backs, a suspense-creating device is purposely utilised in the novel to stimulate the element of paranoia. This is because flash backs are usually associated with memories of horrific ordeals thus evoking feelings of terror, anxiety and fear. These emotions are of the darker side of life analysed through the gothic genre. In addition are the many events that take place in the novel that are vague and lacking in detail making readers never understand or anticipate what is going to occur. For example is the ambiguity of the ending where there is no sense of closure and where the central and crucial body is still left concealed in the disused well.

Some topics in this essay:
Herster Haper, Withering Heights, Hester Harper, Miss Hersfield, Harper Katherine, Hester Katherine, Readers Jolley's, Miss Harper, Harper Thankyou…she, Elizabeth Jolley's, gothic genre, psychological thriller, hester harper, bring katherine home, katherine home, harper katherine, katherine's past, gothic character, gothic horror, fragmented narrative, darker life,