"He was eating a light supper at nine in the evening when the front door cried out in the hall and Mildred ran from the parlor like a native fleeing an eruption of Vesuvius. Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Bowles came through the front door and vanished into the volcano's mouth with martinis in their hands. Montag stopped eating. They were like a monstrous crystal chandelier tinkling in a thousand chimes, he saw their Cheshire Cat smiles burning through the walls of the house, and now they were screaming at each other above the din."
The figurative language I thought was effective was the use of imagery and similes. These vivid descriptions like "vanished into the volcano's mouth" create tension in the reader's head while reading. I love when the author compares the women to a "monstrous crystal chandelier tinkling in a thousand chimes." I believe this almost confuses the reader. But then in the next line it says, "their Cheshire Cat smiles burning through the walls of the house." I absolutely LOVE this line. For me, "Cheshire Cat" made it clear these women were like the Cheshire Cat in the sense that they are sneaky and don't reveal their true identity. By analyzing the figurative language, I can conclude the author sees these women as mischievous and evil; like burning machines.
I loved this part. When I read it I can practically imagine the shrill voices of the women, who act almost like upper class 'lady of the day' types.
ReplyDeleteI always picture something like a group of spoiled women buzzing and bursting through his house.