"The Mystery of the Yellow Room" Prose Analysis

In Gaston Leroux’s novel The Mystery of the Yellow Room, pages 208-209 exemplify Leroux’s tone through his use of polysyllabic diction, elevated diction, various types of sentence structures; syntax, and a few other literary devices in order to explain how emotions effect the characters opinions on other characters, as well as how these opinions developed through human experiences together.

The polysyllabic diction in specific sentences helps to emphasize the strength of one character’s feelings towards another. When Leroux mentions that Mlls Stangerson "had, unfortunately, failed, and felt herself condemned to be for ever at the mercy of this unscrupulous wretch…" (209) he elevated his word choice by using "unscrupulous" as a form of polysyllabic diction, however then he turns around and uses "wretch" as the noun and it is still a good use of diction, but it is monosyllabic diction, therefore showing his various uses of diction; adding complexity to his writing style. These words are used to describe the murderer the investigator is condemning, they are said by Mlls Stangerson herself. The purpose of her saying them is so that the words give off a negative feeling for the readers. Further into the passage Leroux shows more signs of elevated diction through the lines, "A report was spread, a few weeks later, that he was dead, and she now determined to atone for her disobedience by a life of labour and devotion of her father." The choice of words such as "atone", "disobedience" and "devotion" are all forms of higher level diction. As Rouletabille is explaining everything his diction is important because it both moves the story along, and shows that he is in a higher level profession; we can see this through Leroux going to law school.

The word "resuscitated" means to revive or come back and this concept sums up Mlls Stangerson’s feelings and fears as she doesn’t want to be threatened again or killed Mayrose 5

because she has chosen to marry another. Jealousy is evident throughout the novel, but especially in this prose. Jean Roussel loves Mlls Stangerson and wishes to be with her even though he is a wanted criminal. He has the idea that if he can’t have her then no one can; causing uncontrollable jealousy. Leroux does a good job of showing how bad the situation is for Mlls Stangerson as she says "if her father should know of her dishonour, she would kill herself"(p.208). The element of dishonor is important because even though she is afraid physically of Jean, she is afraid of her father’s reaction and thoughts of her if he ever found out she had lied and went behind his back.

Overall the complexity of the plot allows Leroux to use variations of syntax. When he wants something to be said bluntly he states a fragment such as, "The old lady was overjoyed to see her again." (p. 208). His use of fragments allows no questions to be asked, but when he goes on and on in a run-on type of sentence he has a lot to say about one thing and it’s not so cut and dry; this way the readers also pay more attention to what he wants them to notice. The line, "Mademoiselle Stangerson was herself helpless in the hands of such a villain." (p. 209) is very important because she has a weakness towards the villain due to the fact that at one point they were married and in love. Now that she no longer wishes to be with him and wants him to be dead, he wants the same, but only because he is jealous that someone else could have her and her love.