uneasy homecoming
...g in the corner. The content of 'Uneasy Homecoming' is also used to create tension. For example, the reader is aware of things that Connie isn't. Although Connie doesn't notice these things, the reader sees the motor-cycle 'leaning against the garage wall', the reader is told that 'it was an unfortunate omission' for Connie not to look under her bed and that 'she failed to notice the pantry window'. This is effective at creating tension because the reader wants to tell Connie to look under her bed and see the motorbike, but it is impossible. Also, Will Jenkins frequently mentions Connie's uneasy feelings throughout the story. He writes, 'Connie began to have the feeling of dread and uneasiness', 'a sort of formless restlessness and apprehension', 'but the nagging uneasiness persisted' and 'she felt that there was some reason to be utterly still'. The fact that Connie feels this feeling makes the reader experience the same emotion, a sort of uneasiness and fear. By mentioning this frequently, the author constantly reminds the reader of Connie's nervousness. By mentioning a telephone call from Mrs Winston, the author gives the reader new and unsettling pieces of information about local burglaries. He writes, 'Mrs Winston's voice went on explaining. And the feeling of terror came back upon Connie like a blow. There had been a series of burglaries in the town.' Now the reader knows that there is definitely something wrong, and becomes even more anxious. The snippets of information given to the reader by the author, such as the motorbike and the pantry window, become even more foreboding in light of this new information. The omniscient, third person narrative used by the author is also effective. At the beginning, we feel like one of 'Them', one of the men women instinctively feel unsettled by, because we are in control. Connie is alone and frightened, easy prey for one of Them. Later on in the story, after Connie escapes from her home, we feel threatened by and scared of them. The fact that 'Them' is spelt with a capital letter makes 'Them' seem more important, more terrifying and more real. The writer uses silence and sound very effectively to build tension. There is silence until Connie hears the fridge and ...