Literary analysis of the piece ‘The Mistress of Sydenham Plantation
This paper carries out the literary analysis of the piece ‘The Mistress of Sydenham Plantation’ while focusing on the styles and themes employed. This work is unique as it favors the use of imagery and personification to paint a vivid picture from which the reader can grasp the events of the literary piece. The theme highlighted as among the most important is the circle of life which pits the young against the old and depicts an example of the whole life cycle. Therefore, this paper will provide a brief analysis of these factors and focus on quotes from the text that prove the analysis.
The imagery is well detailed throughout the text and gives the reader a feeling as if they are participants of the work. Within the opening paragraphs, the writer describes the wind as having ‘reckless hilarity as March could give to her breezes, but soft and spring-like, almost early-summer-like, in its warmth.’ The writer attempts to give the reader a more vivid description of the exact feel the wind gives. While the wind is not visible, the use of imagery allows the writer to explain more about how it felt. The writer favored the use of common or at least relatable occurrences that the majority of the audience could grasp. Additionally, giving the wind the pronoun, ‘her’ is a perfect example of how personification works. The wind being given a feminine character invokes the imagination of the reader and makes them create a mental image of what was going on.
In terms of the theme adopted, the text focuses on how the old man named Peter and his old companion. Through constant referencing of the younger generation, we get to see how the older generation views the younger ones and how things have changed over time. Unsurprisingly, Peter believes that the old times were ‘the best’ times. This theme shows a recurring belief that one’s youth days were the best of times and is a belief that carries on in every generation. Additionally, Peter looks at his spouse, and ‘it was a relief to see her placid face, and to see even a more youthful look in its worn lines. She had been a very beautiful woman in her young days.’ Indeed, we see Peter reminisce about his and his spouses’ younger days in joy and positivity. This theme explains to the layman how everyone is bound to get caught bypassing time and moving years. Likewise, the text describes the differing view of the younger and older generations. This difference is mainly brought about by the youth not knowing how fast time flies, and the elderly with regrets on what they could not achieve. Additionally, the reader can resonate with the feelings of the characters as they have an idea of what the characters have gone through.
In conclusion, the literary piece gives a unique viewpoint in terms of imagery, personification, and theme. All these factors work hand in hand to deliver the main message and ideals that the author wishes to acknowledge. Thus, the small pieces may seem irrelevant but have a role in making the story enjoyable and captivating. Hence, the analysis shows a clear path which if followed will ensure great results.