Todorovs Narrative Theory

By Emma Whelan

5 Steps
A state of Equilibrium.

A disruption of that order.

A recognition the disorder has occurred. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption. Restoration of Equilibrium

The Woman In Black

EQUILIBRIUM

1)Lawyer Arthur Kipps still mourns the death of his wife whilst caring for his 4 year old son Joseph.
DISRUPTION OF ORDER

2)Arthur travels on business to Cryphin Gifford to examine documents at Eel Marsh House. He discovers a ghost that haunts the house, a woman dressed in black. Her son died in a drowning in the nearby marsh, she seeks revenge on everyone who enters the house.

RECOGNITION DISORDER HAS OCCURED

3. Arthur learns several children in the town have been murdered due to his interference in the house. He learns his son will visit him and suspects the Woman in Black will try to seek revenge by murdering his son Joseph.
ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE OF THE DISRUPTION

4. Arthur feels the only way to stop the murders is to bring the drowned child to his mothers grave. With a friend who also lost a child he finds the boy and returns him to his mother presuming this will put the mother at peace.

RESTORATION OF EQILIBRIUM

5. Arthur plans to return home with Joseph. At the train station on the way back to London the woman in black appears to Joseph. She leads him into the tracks in front of a fast train. Arthur sees this and jumps into the tracks covering his son. Both die and are reunited with Stella, Josephs mother.

An establishing of equilibrium
-The film starts with a tea party scene between 3 little girls, it seems the
perfect equilibrium. This is disrupted by the forced suicide of the these girls this is the disruption to equilibrium. This is an indicator for the equilibrium between Arthur and his son, the bond between a grieving widower and his son. The relationship between them is foreboding when linked with the 3 girls, suggesting their relationship will come to and end much like the girls.

Tension is created
The use of children creates an uncomfortable atmosphere as the ideal image of innocence is destroyed by the evil image of The woman in Black The non-continuity editing creates a sense of disillusion and puts the viewer on edge as it becomes hard to keep focused on one setting and installs fear into the audience as they cannot predict what will happen next. The use of CU shots brings childlike innocence into focus making the story all the more sinister.