The use of figurative language by authors elevates their works, especially those of fiction, into an entirely different realm in which the reader becomes immersed in both the imagery and descriptions of the text. Of course, there are many ways in which writers can use figurative language such as similes, metaphors, and hyperboles to create an image for the reader or emphasize a point they are trying to make. Authors are also able to utilize figurative language beyond decorating their writing but to also add character development, communicate information about the text, and amplify suspense. To further illustrate the importance and the roles of figurative languages the following short stories including Edgar Allen Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado”, …show more content…
The story tells of a woman of unknown background who charms a man out of his boots, in a choppy manner, the timeline fast-forwards slightly and the two have fallen in the depths of love, marriage, and a baby. The whole nine yards, some may say. Yet, in typical Kate Chopin-esque manner, the façade of a beautiful home and loving family was torn down within a few paragraphs into the story. In fact, a rather particularly haunting excerpt from the text states; “It was a sad looking place, which for many years had not known the gentle presence of a mistress, old Monsieur Aubigny having married and buried his wife in France, and she having loved her own land too well ever to leave it. The roof came down steep and black like a cowl, reaching out beyond the wide galleries that encircled the yellow stuccoed house.” (Chopin, 1892). This portion of the text describes the residence of L’Abri in which the happily married Mr. and Mrs. Aubigny reside with their newest edition, the baby. It is also of importance to mention that Mr. Aubigny is a slave master and there are many slaves upon the property throughout the text, Aubigny is a through and through racist and lashes out at them with a ferocity that Mrs. Aubigny fears she married Satan at …show more content…
This draws a picture for the reader that the roof, the very thing that is meant to shelter and protect the family, is looming above them in the manner of a cowl—or thick hood—rich with secrets and distress. Chopin’s description of the home, especially the simile for the roof, informs the reader of the true nature of this seemingly happy family and the weight of unhappiness that is not only beginning to burden them but represents the evil they partake in by owning slaves. Mr. Aubigny fears that his wife is the very thing he hates the most in this world, not pure a hundred percent red-blooded Caucasian, and banishes her and their child from his estate on these accusations. In a twist of fate, it is Aubigny who comes to find out he is of mixed heritage. This can bring a new level to the symbolism of the sinking roof of his home as it shows the weight of his hatred towards others and himself that has driven his wife and child away. Through craftily using the figurative language device of similes, Kate Chopin was able to create layers of hidden meaning and symbolism that informed the reader but also gave a subtle wink that there is more than what meets the story she
Kate Chopin uses foreshadowing and imagery to demonstrate how even the darkest secrets a person holds, will eventually be revealed. Foreshadowing proves how the truth will always come out. Desiree, the wife of Armand and mother of a child feels a “disquieting suggestion” that “[menaces] her peace.” (2) Because of what Desiree’s other, Madame Valmonde, says about her child. She begins to believe what her mother told her.
Presence of Literacy Convention: Metaphors and Similes Throughout the story, a few metaphors and similes were used in order to create and establish a comparison between certain objectives. Within this simile, “With that she leaped
Chopin shows her understanding of this system when portraying the relationship between Armand and the slaves on his plantation. Chopin says, “Young Aubigny’s rule was a strict one, too, and under it his slaves had forgotten how to be gay, as they had been during the old master’s easy-going and indulgent lifetime” (2). His reputation as the owner allowed Armand to feel control over his slaves and treat them
Throughout the antebellum era separation of whites and blacks was the usual among plantations dotted along the South. Until more recent times, slavery was not frowned upon, and the ideas of men have been help to higher stature those of women. Kate Chopin introduces a continuation of themes surrounding the general theme of racism by her use of irony, foreshadowing, and symbolism to ultimately prove to the reader throughout the story that Armond is aware of his African American lineage from the beginning of the plot, to the chilling ending of his “discovery.” Progressing through the story it is evident that Chopin is trying to convey the idea that Armand is aware of his roots.
One of the literary devices that Chopin uses is the characters. Characterization is the creation of a fictional character. The few characters that are in this story are
Analysis of Figurative Language in Two Short Stories You tell your friend they’re like a giant, and that the clouds need to jump out of his way. You used figurative language to joke with your friend, which is also used by professional writers to develop specific elements in a story. In The “Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers, and in “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, the authors use figurative language to help develop scene and character. In the story “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” the author Walter Dean Myers uses figurative language to develop scene.
Therefore, Kate Chopin focuses on the relationship between Calixta, the noble housewife, and Alcee, her old lover, by reuniting without anyone knowing, Calixta’s son and husband coming home to a happy wife and mother, and both of them not getting caught by cheating on their spouses. When Calixta and Alcee reunited together, they had did not have any care in the world, and it was risky that they could have been caught in the act. It is ironic when the thunder storm started right when Alcee showed up; however, the storm became stronger and that made him come inside Calixta’s house, and the woman sexuality was shown to be constraint as represented by the house chores Calixta performs. Chopin confirms the relationship between Calixta and Alcee’s unlawful experience together, but is not unaware of the dangers to which it may lead. Not only did Calixta commit adultery, but after it happened, her husband and son came home
Armand was supposedly having an affair with La Blanche, one of the family’s slaves. This is form of racism because having an affair is unacceptable in the first place, but if anyone knew that Armand was having an affair with a black woman, it would have been the end. Armand wanted to keep everything under wrap and under his complete control. Whether this is a form of misleading the reader to think this or not, Chopin hinted that there was some cracks in the marriage of Armand and Desiree. Irony and foreshadowing and maybe even examples of misleading the reader are used to show how racist Armand can be and the way this racism causes him to act in general and towards
Today, most people would assume that the reaction to a loved one’s death would be immediate grief; however, that would not be the case in the late 1800s. In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour” women were expected to grieve differently than men. The story conveys the main character Mrs. Mallard’s distress and joy after she discovered the supposed death of her husband. The story does not demonstrate Mrs. Mallard following the stages of grief that would be expected when grieving over her husband. In spite of the fact that Mrs. Mallard was grieving she was likewise encountering joy and satisfaction since she then realizes that she is currently free.
When her husband walked through the front door she was so overcome with sadness that her heart couldn’t take it so she died. This shows just how bad that she was treated because she died when she found out her husband was alive. Through the use of plot twist Kate Chopin showed how women were treated unfairly throughout her
One element being demonstrated in the story is the theme. The theme is important for setting an ambience within the story. An analysis on Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” demonstrates the theme of freedom, happiness, and adultery. The first theme Chopin demonstrates is the freedom of women in the nineteenth century. Many women
During the era in which this short story was written, southern authors had a major influence on the way the culture was going to grow with racism, and also the way people loved each other. Kate Chopin, a traditional author who believed in southern ways, exemplifies how race and the characteristics of conditional love played a role in her story. In “Desiree’s Baby,” the author, Kate Chopin, provides an illustration of conditional love exemplified by the character, Armand, towards his wife and child; furthermore, Chopin provides instances of irony, elements of surprise, foreshadowing, and symbolism to prove that Armand’s love for both of them was not the unconditional love typically felt and portrayed by women, such as Desiree, during this era. Throughout the story, the readers notice different times where Chopin uses elements of surprise. One major surprise is when Armand opens the letter from his mother and finds out that he has African American in his bloodline.
Analysis of Symbolism in Desiree’s Baby Set in antebellum Louisiana, Desiree’s Baby tells the story of a couple and how a relationship went south very quickly. Desiree’s Baby gives the reader an idea of how women were treated in the 1850’s and touches on the treatment of slaves Pre-Civil War. In this analysis of Kate Chopin’s, Desiree’s Baby, the symbolism of the treatment of the slaves, the deserted field, and the bonfire all signify more than they let on in the story.
The story also argues that freedom is a very powerful force that affects the mental or emotional state of a person. Chopin argues that only through death can one be finally freed. The author makes strong, yet subtle statements towards humanity and women’s rights. Through subtle symbolism, Kate Chopin demonstrates how marriage is more like a confining role of servitude rather than a
Women in the 1890s were expected to work at home to keep their husbands comfortable and bear him children. Kate Chopin wrote most of her short stories during this time period. Her stories “A Respectable Woman” and “A Story of an Hour” show a female protagonist who want their freedom and control over their own lives. Her characters pushed the bounds of the roles that society gave them and showed the brutal reality of how women were treated in the 1890s. In “A Respectable Woman” the female protagonist Mrs. Baroda is married and lives on a plantation with her husband, who invites a friend to spend a week or two with them.