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Pathos
Definition of Personification
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the... read full definition
Book 2, Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—Caress of Air:
The second chapter of the second book opens with Winston walking along the path that the dark-haired girl instructed him to follow. Offering the reader the first real setting that feels light, comfortable, and pretty, this passage contains pleasant imagery and personification:
Winston picked his way up the lane through dappled light and shade, stepping out into pools of gold wherever the boughs parted. Under the trees to the left of them the ground was misty with bluebells. The air seemed to kiss one’s skin. It was the second of May. From somewhere deeper in the heart of the wood came the droning of ring doves.
With this opening, the reader is given an instance of relief from the gray and mechanical surroundings that have pervaded the novel so far. The dappled light, pools of gold, and misty bluebells all come together to create a soothing mood. In addition, the personification of the air imbues the scene with a sense of intimacy that has been totally absent so far in the novel. The reader knows that he is on his way to meet the dark-haired girl, and the caressing air signals that the two characters will be physically intimate.
The intervals in which Winston and the dark-haired girl (whom he shortly thereafter gets to know as Julia) meet, talk, and sleep together give the reader much-needed rest from the otherwise gloomy mood. Just as they are able to rest and be their true selves when they are together in private, the reader is able to gather some diversion and hope from their shared moments. Moreover, there is some hope in the fact that nature of this kind exists whatsoever in the world of Big Brother. Although the Party has destroyed many of the sweet parts of life, nature seems to prevail.
Related Themes:
