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Literary Devices
Definition of Allusion
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to... read full definition
Allusions
Explanation and Analysis—Vulcan the Roman God:
When Hulga is reflecting on her decision to name herself “Hulga” (her given name was “Joy”), she alludes to the Roman god Vulcan, as seen in the following passage:
She considered the name her personal affair. She had arrived at it first purely on the basis of its ugly sound and then the full genius of its fitness had struck her. She had a vision of the name working like the ugly sweating Vulcan who stayed in the furnace and to whom, presumably, the goddess had to come when called.
Vulcan is the Roman god of fire, volcanoes, and metalworking. Hulga refers to him as “ugly” because, according to Roman mythology, he was considered unattractive due to a physical impairment to one of his legs (which gave him a limp) as well as due to the soot and sweat that would stick to him while engaging in metalwork. It makes sense that Hulga identifies with Vulcan, given the limp she has due to her artificial leg, and the fact that this renders her unattractive to most men.
It is notable that Hulga compares herself to Vulcan because, despite his “ugliness,” he ended up married to Venus, the desirable goddess of love and beauty. Hulga’s imagining of Venus “com[ing] when called” by Vulcan hints at her fantasy of having an attractive romantic partner whom she can control in this way. While she initially views the Bible Salesman this way, she soon realizes that he is the one who has control over her, rather than the other way around.
Related Themes:
