Commentary on an extract from the 'Idea of Perfection' by Kate Grenville
The Idea of Perfection
This extract from ‘The Idea of Perfection’ by Kate Grenville represents Kate’s simple idea of perfection, which is that things don’t have to be perfect as in flawless, and everything has it bad side. However, perfect in giving a satisfying feeling, also pureness and originality with the flaws. Thus the writer uses the bridge as a symbol to present her idea. This idea is portrayed through contrast, the presentation of the character and the setting, diction and imagery.
The feelings of satisfaction and complete acceptance are the main feeling that readers can sense from the extract. These feelings are greatly recognized through the use of diction and imagery used in presenting the character and the setting. The description dictions such as ‘humble’, ‘apologetic look’, ‘clumsy thing’, and ‘simple joints’, helps to send the readers a modest and humble image of the setting, not a flawless image. Making the readers imagine the setting as pure and natural. Also the character is presented as a natural person, unsure of her self, not a perfect person; just by making the character realize how ridiculous she is, helps the readers to relate to the character’s situation of looking back and judging ones self. Also the situation where the character draw the bridge more than once, gives a feeling that the character is not perfect and can’t draw everything perfectly as they look. The purpose of making everything from the character to the setting not perfect, yet in a satisfying way, aids the writer to build her main idea of perfection.