HOW DOES PLATH CONVEY THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE NARRATORS VIEW OF THE WORLD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY AND HER VIEW AT THE END?

            Another technique used by Plath is metaphors. An example of a simile used by Plath is “my flying dreams were as believable as a landscape by dali”. This shows that her life is surreal and colourful. It also suggests that the narrator’s life is quite imaginary. This is because Dali is a surrealist artist and he does imaginary drawings.

             Another technique used by Plath is metaphors. An example of metaphors is “the airport was my Mecca, my Jerusalem.” This shows that she loves the airport as if it was a religious or very special place to her. This point also suggests that she has mind of small child, which is very make believe, and imaginary. This metaphor is good because it makes the reader feel happy and in a good mood. However near the end of the story the metaphors start to get darker. An example of this is “black shadow creeping up the underside of the world like a flood tide.” This metaphor makes the darkness as though it is like a massive wave swallowing up the earth spreading darkness and misery all over the world. This makes the reader feel cold and dark inside. I feel that this is one of the best comparisons in the whole of the story because it shows the contrast very clearly in terms of colour and light.

              Finally the last technique used by Sylvia Plath is the difference between characters. In the story there are a lot of characters such as Paula, uncle frank, the narrators mum, Sheldon Finn and jimmy. In the beginning of the story the narrator sees her uncle frank as if he is superman and a very strong fit man. It also portrays him as a person who can solve all problems. An example of this is “how’s my favourite trooper… there was a big love in his voice that drowned out the shouting which still echoed in my ear.” This shows that he is a person who can solve problems and comfort people. However near the end, when Paula falls over and ruins her snowsuit, she blames the narrator for it. When the narrator goes home and tells uncle frank, that she never tripped Paula up, he doesn’t believe her. This changes the mood quite considerably because one-second uncle frank is comforting her but the next second he doesn’t believe what the narrator is saying. An example of this is “you don’t have to be afraid. We will understand. Only tell me what really happened.”

Overall Plath conveys the contrast between

  the narrator’s view of the world at the beginning and at the end really well. This is mostly, I believe, because of the difference in colour and the difference in metaphors. The colours are bright and colourful in the beginning whereas in the end they are dark. This is how Plath conveys the difference in the beginning and in the end the best.  BY TALHA RAJA.