Short Story Analysis of Three Skeleton Key by George G. Toudouze

In the suspenseful short story "Three  Skeleton Key" George G. Toudouze depicts the most terrifying experience of the narrator's life. The story begins at Three Skeleton Key, an island off the coast of South America. Three lighthouse keepers are confused when a derelict ship with no crew, but rats on board heads straight for the island. The rats swarm over the island and eventually break into the lighthouse. The keepers try to fight off the rats. A meat boat comes to help them and the rats swarm the boat. The boat is then set on fire and the keepers are saved at the end. Toudouze uses setting and danger to heighten the suspense and create anxious curiosity in the reader.

An isolated and treacherous setting creates a suspenseful mood for the reader. For example the narrator describes,"...in a lighthouse newly built off the coast of Guiana, on a small rock twenty miles or so from the mainland. Three Skeleton Key, the small rock on which the light stood, bore a bad reputation"(Toudouze, 1937, p. 32). The explanation of the setting shows how isolated the characters are. The phrase, "...twenty miles or so from the mainland" shows that the keepers are not able to get any help because they are so far away from any . If the keepers are in trouble they will be trapped on the island until someone comes. The phrase "bore a bad reputation" emphasizes the bad luck on the island, so the characters could be in danger. The keepers are risking their lives because the island is already known to have horrible consequences for people that go there. Additionally, the narrator highlights, "..the rocks were treacherously smooth. One misstep and down you would fall into the sea" (Toudouze, 1937, p. 33). Taking one wrong step and having your life on the line shows that the setting is treacherous. The expression "rocks were treacherously smooth" emphasizes that if you fall you are heading right for the sea. With the characters knowing that the rocks are very smooth they are going to be very careful. The term "one misstep and down you would fall into the sea" shows that if you fall you are likely to drown. With the likelihood of falling, the keepers must be safe around the outside of the light house.

Besides setting, suspense is also illustrated through the use of danger. For instance, the narrator states, " A ship sailing with all sail spread, creaming the sea with her forefoot as she runs before the wind, is one of the most beautiful sights in the world - but this time I could feel the tears stinging in my eyes as I saw this fine ship headed for her doom" (Toudouze, 1937, p. 36). This description of danger exemplifies the fact that the ship is heading right for the island. The phrase "saw this fine ship headed for her doom" highlights the fact that the ship is going to crash. The ship almost seems like it is not being controlled by its crew.  The ship would be turning away if it had a crew. The characters feel like they are in danger with the ship heading their way. Furthermore, the narrator describes, "...fighting off the rats...knee-deep swarm... wading through them up the stairs..rats occupied the entire light beneath us" (Toudouze, 1937, p. 43). To put it differently the rats are now throughout the entire lighthouse so this creates danger for the characters. The words "knee-deep swarm" show that the hundreds of rats are filling up the lighthouse. The lighthouse is flooded with rats. The phrase "occupied the entire light beneath us" shows that there are an innumerable amount of rats. The rats are occupying the entirety of the lighthouse below them, so the keepers feel trapped and imprisoned. 

Setting and danger are only two of the many devices that create a suspenseful mood in the story “Three Skeleton Key.” Because the story is set on an isolated island, surrounded by sharks, and miles away from mainland, the reader has anxious anticipation of what may come next. Through grave and dark settings the author creates suspense. When telling about the dangerousness of the island the author also creates suspense. These literary devices highlight the grim and uncertain tone of the narrator.  Through  this terrifying tale, the audience learns that fear often promotes one's inner strength giving them the courage to do anything.