Hidden Passage Essay

1022 Words5 Pages
This extract is a passage from Oscar and Lucinda, written by Peter Carey and is centred on the themes of insecurity, curiosity and love. From the passage the reader learns about the experiences and similarities of Oscar and Lucinda’s lives although it seems as though they have never met. The description and formation of the sentence brings meaning to the physical objects within, often depicting the scenario surrounding. The descriptive and informative language that Peter Carey uses helps the reader more vividly imagine the events that are unfolding within. Although Oscar and Lucinda are strangers the writer uses language to convey the sense that the relationship between them may be on the verge of changing. Within the passage the events and emotions aren’t described in detail, consequentially the symbolism used of physical objects becomes much more evident. The chair is a strong symbolism for Lucinda’s life and heart, the chair that Oscar first fetches is broken and the following comments from Lucinda “everything is in collapse” further depicts the torrid time she is having. The broken back of the chair advance the thoughts that Lucinda has nothing or no-one to support her, so when Oscar attempts to mend it, it already shows the strength of the connection between the two characters. The mending of the chair is also a partial replication of the mending of her heart, he is showing support for her and now the back of the chair is fixed it “her back was bathed in afternoon sunshine” giving her something and someone that she can ‘lean’ on. “This was her place of exile” the window ledge that she sits on depicts that emotionally she is on the edge of existence as she doesn’t want to be involved in the life inside the room or outside. While sitting on the ledge the passage portrays her looking outside and reflecting on her life “when the window framed a picture of drunken
Open Document