Images of a Little Girl
Dillard uses vivid imagery in describing her adventures as a little girl. One interesting phrase she uses at the beginning of her essay to describe the marks her cats nightly massage would give her is, “the sign on my body could have been an emblem or a stain, the keys to the kingdom or the mark of Cain.” The biblical imagery here is very effective because Cain was the first to murder in the Bible. He murders his brother Abel after God approves of Abel’s offering over his own. By using such powerful imagery, Dillard is able to vividly show the blood stains are her chest and the symbolism behind this event in her life. Another interesting phrase that Dillard uses is “cruelty is a mystery”. This phrase is open to multiple interpretations but it is interesting that Dillard chooses to use mystery rather then something negative to describe cruelty because cruelty itself is usually regarded as negative. It unleashes the impulsiveness of a child, with little conscious and always seeking pleasure. An word choice that Dillard makes is she describes the mountains as “restful”. This personification gives the mountains an entirely different feel. Often they are described as “great” or “majestic”. They are “powerful” or a source of stability, strength, and unpredictability. By describing the mountains as “restful” Dillard gives the imagery of an elderly man sitting in a hammock, or just laying peacefully. They are still and calm and in them there is a sense of peace. Another interesting word choice Dillard uses is describing the creek as “sluggish”. This is also personification and it is interesting because creeks are not often described as sluggish but by doing so, Dillard paints a picture of an old creek that is thick with mud and algae. Dillard’s specific word choices add to the richness of her essay and the imagery she wishes to convey.
A very good analysis of Dillard’s writing. After actually sitting down and reading her descriptive prose, I would agree with you on many of the words you chose that stuck out. Also, I like your incorporation of possible alternatives to her words that seemed weaker or more conventional.
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