Budge Wilson, in “The Metaphor,” writes about Ms. Hancock, a beloved teacher. Charlotte writes a metaphor in seventh grade relating her mother to a cold, grey building. When Wilson writes about Ms. Hancock, she describes her as being colorful and warm. Charlotte saw Ms. Hancock more as a mother figure than her own mother. However, when Ms. Hancock stops being her teacher, Charlotte starts to become more like her mother. 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. Charlotte depicts her mother as a “cool perfection of a building.” She is not warm, inviting, or fun, rather, her mother is …show more content…
She explains that “only those with great sensitivity of taste, could have perceived its true fine flavor“ and “most grown-ups would have thrown it away after one brief glance at the frosting.” Charlotte means that only people that have keen insight could really appreciate Ms. Hancock for who she truly was. Ironically, it turns out that only the seventh graders could see the beauty in the teacher. Adults are supposed to set an example for children, however, they are blind to something that naive kids could see. It is a tragic irony because no one gave Miss Hancock a chance because they are not influenced by societal standards. Charlotte’s mother made it clear that Ms. Hancock was not conventional, nevertheless, seventh graders were inspired by her to love writing. This irony shows that society can be blinded by its own rules that someone like Miss Hancock is looked down