My Brilliant Career: Alliteration 3 key examples

Franklin's choice of words isn't just about making the title catchy—it has a deeper meaning. Here, the repeated "C" sound in "Career [...] Careered" creates a kind of stop-start effect in the diction. This mirrors the way Mr. Melvyn's success comes in fits and starts, before suddenly stopping.

The phrase "careered to an end" uses the same word twice but with different meanings. Usually, one would think of a "career" as a job or profession that a person makes their life's work. However, "careered” in this usage also means something that’s rushing forward quickly and uncontrollably. So, this title also hints that Mr. Melvyn's job situation and his life don't go as planned, as they rush towards failure.

This title doesn't just reference Mr. Melvyn's job. It also gives Franklin’s reader a hint about what might happen later in Sybylla's life. The book's title attests that Sybylla's journey to adulthood is the driving force of the story. But, like her father's "career," this passage foreshadows that her life might also take some unexpected turns. Given this use of foreshadowing, the chapter's title takes on a third meaning. It tells the reader about Mr. Melvyn's professional issues, gives them a clue about the ups and downs Sybylla might face in her own journey, and also hints at the eventual failure of Sybylla’s "career" without discussing it explicitly.

The metaphor of peasants as "bulwarks" of a nation is central to this passage. A bulwark can be two things: it's either a defensive wall, or it refers to the sides of a ship that come above the deck. Both of these are protective features. With this metaphor, Franklin suggests that working-class people form the strong barriers that protect and uphold society. The idea of a "bulwark" also reflects a notion popular in the 19th century Australian consciousness: that the character and strength of the nation were built upon the efforts of its working class. This passage is another moment where Franklin aligns Sybylla's development with the values of Australian nationalism and democracy.

The alliteration in the repeated use of "peasant" emphasizes the importance and the prominence of the working class in Australian society. It’s rhythmic and recurrent, by far the most common noun in this sentence. Its repeated use here represents the number of working-class people in contrast to the much smaller upper class of Australia. This repetition, as the narrator uses it, also reinforces the idea that only a peasant who truly embodies and accepts their role can find fulfillment. Franklin portrays a peasant’s life idealistically, as "grand," "honest," "clean," and "wholesome," if they embody this role.

Sybylla's viewpoints evolve as the novel progresses and she develops into adulthood. In this passage she speaks of the peasantry as if she is separate from them. However, by the end of the novel she proudly identifies as a peasant herself.

Franklin emphasizes the dreamy beauty of Caddagat through a metaphor invoking the softness of fabric. Caddagat is so beautiful that it is “draped” in beauty. It isn't just a lovely place: it's so beautiful that it seems there's an excess of beauty that falls in folds around it. This metaphor also creates a sense for the reader that everything at Caddagat is soft, plentiful, and luxurious. This couldn't be more different from the harsh, sparse Australian outback Sybylla arrives from. This metaphor is about more than the visual aspects of Caddagat, however; it's also about how Sybylla feels about the place. Words like "draped" and "enfolded" suggest a sense of warmth and being held. They envelop Caddagat in more tactile imagery of softness and comfort, where Sybylla is “enfolded in grandmotherly love.”

The repetitive sound of the word "Caddagat" also adds to this soothing, soft quality. Sybylla repeats it several times in this passage. The rhythmic repetition of the words is amplified by the alliteration of all the “C” sounds, and by the repetitive sounds within the word “Caddagat” itself. It's like a soothing lullaby, reinforcing Sybylla's emotional attachment to the place. Through these techniques, Franklin helps readers understand why Sybylla is so attached to Caddagat. It's not just her birthplace: it's a place where she feels comfortable, loved, and hopeful.