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Definition of Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like" or "as," but can also... read full definition
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like... read full definition
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often... read full definition
Act III
Explanation and Analysis—Cold as a Loveless Thing:
At the start of Act III, Lady Windermere delivers another lengthy soliloquy. She evidently has mixed feelings about her decision to leave Lord Windermere. It seems like the hope of her husband running after her forms a significant part of her motivation for running off with Lord Darlington. Lady Windermere's ambivalence is communicated through contrast and simile:
Why doesn’t he come? This waiting is horrible. He should be here. Why is he not here, to wake by passionate words some fire within me? I am cold—cold as a loveless thing.
Mirroring her soliloquy in the first act, this soliloquy showcases her character development. The "he" she refers to in her first soliloquy is her husband Lord Windermere, whereas the "he" in this soliloquy is Lord Darlington. Although her worldview has been shattered, she remains her old self to a greater degree than she wants to; despite the decision she's made, she continues to love her husband and wants to be with him.
The melodramatic simile in which she compares herself to "a loveless thing" underlines her helplessness. In addition, the contrast between "fire" and "cold" shows her uncertainty. She creates distance between herself and Lord Darlington, by associating him with heat and fire and describing herself as having "chill hands and [an] icy heart." This shows that she doesn't actually feel any passion for Lord Darlington, as she requires his extravagant words to kindle her emotion. While she wants herself to want Lord Darlington, she wants even more to stay in her marriage.
Until Mrs. Erlynne appears on stage, Lady Windermere's intention goes back and forth. All of the outcomes she considers are negative. Removing and putting on her cloak repeatedly, she oscillates between the shame of returning to her husband and the shame of going off with Lord Darlington. This reflects the challenge of being a "good" woman, as conventional morality often puts women in a double bind.
Related Themes:
