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Definition of Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations intended to emphasize a point... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements are usually quite obvious exaggerations... read full definition
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker exaggerates for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbolic statements... read full definition
Hyperbole
Explanation and Analysis—Mrs. Sommers's Psyche:
Chopin uses hyperbolic language to describe Mrs. Sommers's mental state. Despite the fact that she is running a simple errand, Mrs. Sommers seems to be profoundly moved by the purchase of the stockings. As she puts on the stockings and leans back in a cushioned chair, the story describes her as taking a much-needed rest:
She seemed for the time to be taking a rest from that laborious and fatiguing function and to have abandoned herself to some mechanical impulse [...].
The phrase "laborious and fatiguing function" is notably dramatic. It could refer either to Mrs. Sommers's errand or to her role as a responsible wife. Chopin leaves this phrase intentionally vague but makes sure to emphasize how tired Mrs. Sommers is as a result of her responsibilities. Every subsequent purchase (at the shoe store, the restaurant, and the theater) is described in similarly hyperbolic terms.
Upon first glance, the story seems to glorify material comfort. But it really provides a critique of consumerism that reveals the fleeting benefits of physical pleasure. Mrs. Sommers seeks (and finds) great happiness in shops and fancy restaurants. But when she steps into the cable car in the final scene, she finds herself thinking differently, as she experiences "a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever." She does not really wish that the cable car will continue forever, but this hyperbolic description underscores her desperation to escape from her role as a wife and mother. Chopin consistently exaggerates Mrs. Sommers's thoughts and emotions to show the heights of delight in escapism and the depths of despair when she must face her real problems and responsibilities.
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