The author of the short story uses change and contrast in characterisation to emphasise that people live life rather than just existing. The author initially characterises Jordan Matthews as a routine-driven, isolated and compassionless man. The central protagonist is contrasted with the character of the flower seller who is free-spirited, ephemeral, and associated with the natural world. Through an encounter between the two, Matthews first changes in subtle ways and gradually is transformed into a character that embraces freedom, values relationships and sees the world through the eyes of nature/ develops a love for nature. Through these techniques the author explores the detrimental effect of routine taking over Matthew’s life/ the continual …show more content…
Matthews lives a routine-driven life which relies upon extreme punctuality. By permanently ‘set[ing] his watch alarm for twelve fifty-two’ Jordan Matthews guaranteed he would always be on time to ‘jolt [his] computer awake’. Time is the most important aspect to Matthews because it remained the same. However, it stripes him of the interesting surprises life can present. Even when Jordan Matthews slowed down a little, he was still able to ‘[shave] twenty-three seconds off his two-year record’. Furthermore, due to Jordan Matthews’ routine-driven nature and his obsessive sense of time, he knew that as his ‘clock chimed eight, his fortnight’s pay had been deposited…to the dollar’. Having only a timed-based connection with the outside world, Jordan Matthews felt ‘slightly dislocated’ when the cleaning lady visited. Matthew’s lack of compassion developed because of his selfish routine of withdrawal from people. Even an old man collapsing wasn’t a large enough ‘distraction’ to deter him from his perfectly- timed routine. Jordan Matthews isolates himself in a world of routine because time is his only companion which doesn’t change. Jordan Matthews is contrasted with the character of the flower seller who is free-spirited, ephemeral, and associated with the natural world. The flower seller’s sense of freedom brings an almost unrealistic aspect to her character. The
Chrysanthemums are beautiful, delicate flowers, which often symbolize happiness. In the short story, “The Chrysanthemums,” John Steinbeck walks the readers through the lives of Elisa and Henry Allen. They live on a foothill ranch in Salinas Valley, California, where they spend most of their days living a simple lifestyle. The Allens focus their time on maintaining their ranch, but in the eyes of Elisa, this meant more time for her to tend to her beloved chrysanthemums. Steinbeck incorporates quizzical diction and repetition to characterize Elisa and to define happiness, to convey the message that it is more important to be happy than to try to please everybody else.
Smythe’s characterization to describe the physical environment where white people typically live. The way Mrs. Smythe keeps her household, filled with plants and pictures on the wall, projects a feeling of hominess and comfort. He shares his memory of her house, “the lawn was neat and green and I only saw one dandelion” (10), signifying a perfect place to live and emphasizing the care taken to look after it. Mrs. Smythe walks up to him smiling, carrying a hotdog, “her blue dress swayed as she walked” (11). The reader learns of the relaxed ambiance felt in her presence and shows the ease of having something to eat on hand; the privileges of being a “townie.”
When Cole attempted to release his anger he triggered an event that would change his life forever by healing and change. Cole then saw that everything has beauty including the grass and moss all around him. `This is an extraordinary and thrilling book that will change your perspective on how you see and think.
Although, when Ms. Hancock dies, she breaks free of the hold of her mother and is “born” a new person. In the end, Charlotte realizes that adults can not see the beauty in people like Ms.Hancock, yet children can. Through juxtaposition, symbolism, and irony, Wilson describes Charlotte’s self-realization of life. Charlotte’s mother’s and Ms.Hancock’s descriptions are a juxtaposition in order to convey her true feelings of her mother and Ms. Hancock.
In “Marigolds” by Eugenia Collier the coming of age short story where a now grown up Lizabeth reminisce her childhood especially going into Ms.Lottie’s garden. Ms. Lottie, who did not like children but treated her precious marigolds gets them destroyed by Lizabeth. After destroying them, Lizabeth realizes her errors believing she became a women in that moment. This short story has several literary device that are used in it to help deepen the meaning. The use of imagery, symbolism and metaphors in “Marigolds” helps the reader that it is important to not lose
Despite having an arduous life in Canada, he has in part fulfilled his idea of a personal heaven by living in an urban and developed setting; and primarily escaping the judgments of the apathetic islanders. Yet, this idea of a perfect life is incomplete; it lacks “some sweet island woman with whom he’d share his life, of having children and later buying a house” Many times in life, future gratification in unforeseeable, and occasionally — such as in the instance of Max — sacrifices may result in a sense of disillusioned inaptitude. Within this excerpt of the short story “Mammita’s Garden Cove” by Cyril Dabydeen, the author’s complex attitude towards place is conveyed by Dabydeen’s use of repetition, diction, and
The speaker does not dwell on the hardships he has just endured, but instead remarks that he feels “painted and glittered.” The diction used towards the end of the work conveys the new attitude of the speaker. He is overcome with his triumph over the swamp, and now indulges in the beauty of new life and rebirth after struggle. Oliver’s strong diction conveys the speaker’s transformation and personal growth over
Changing Flower - A Refugees Changing Personality Simply, a flower can often be thought of as a personality. Shrivelling, blooming, decaying, and growing, inside out and back again through times of peace, danger, and war. The main character of Inside Out and Back Again, Ha, along with real-life refugees, had been living in Vietnam, and other countries, their whole life. As Communist soldiers came to demolish townships and a way of life during the Vietnam War, Ha is left with no hope, and became a refugee, fleeing to America, a country filled with challenges for all.
Mastery Assignment 2: Literary Analysis Essay Lee Maracle’s “Charlie” goes through multiple shifts in mood over the course of the story. These mood are ones of hope and excitement as Charlie and his classmates escape the residential school to fear of the unknown and melancholy as Charlie sets off alone for home ending with despair and insidiousness when Charlie finally succumbs to the elements . Lee highlights these shifts in mood with the use of imagery and symbolism in her descriptions of nature.
The hopes of Wes, Mary, and many others can be depicted through the sight of their new neighborhood in which “flowerpots were filled with geraniums or black-eyed Susans, and floral wreaths hung from each wooden door” (Moore 56). Not only does this use imagery to describe the beauty of Dundee Village, but the metaphoric aspect contributes to the message that Moore is trying to
Prose Analysis Essay In Ann Petry’s The Street, the urban setting is portrayed as harsh and unforgiving to most. Lutie Johnson, however, finds the setting agreeable and rises to challenges posed by the city in order to achieve her goals. Petry portrays this relationship through personification, extended metaphor, and imagery.
I will discuss how the poets have given the reader the ability to understand and view the characters within their own environments. ' In Cardigan Market' has continuous themes of locality, community and mainly character development due to the surrounding environment. Likewise, 'A Peasant' ensures these themes are present too. ' Auntie Jane fish' 'squats' in the marketplace all day.
Have you ever felt that your view of things change when you get older? Well, that’s how Jacqueline Woodson felt. As we grow and change, so do our perspectives on a variety of things that we experience in life. In the beginning, Woodson introduces that since she got older, her perspective of her once beloved home has changed as a central idea of the story. By observing how her character changes over the course of the plot, it seems evident that Woodson is trying to convey to the reader that a person’s view of things change as one gets older.
Masculine and Feminine Roles in Steinbeck’s “Chrysanthemums” In the story “The Chrysanthemums”, by John Steinbeck, Elisa Allen lives an unsatisfactory life as she desires more than what is bestowed upon her. The reader learns Elisa’s husband is culpable for not seeing the beauty of his wife, leaving an open door for the antagonist, a traveler, to prey upon Elisa’s. Steinbeck uses Masculine and Feminine roles of the early 20th century, Internal Conflict, and an antagonist, to show Elisa’s struggle for Identity. Steinbeck illustrates Masculine and feminine roles of the 20th century in the “Chrysanthemums” to show Elisa’s struggle with identity.
Some characters break the mold and, instead of treating disillusionment with hostility, step back into the illusion in which they once lived