The setting The spacial dimension

1. The settingThe spacial dimension • Lexical field of wealth/abundance(‘’high ceilings’’, ‘’wine-coloredrugs’’, ‘’frostedwedding-cake of the ceiling’’) • Lexical field of luminosity (‘’rosy-coloredspace’’, ‘’the windowswereajar’’, ‘’French windows’’, ‘’gleaming white’’) • Semanticfield of sumptuousfurniture and decor (‘’an enormouscouch’’, ‘’white curtains’’, ‘’a picture on the wall’’)

2. The inhabitants/ guests of the houseThe human dimension • Symbolicrepresentation of the couple’smarried life (‘’the wedding-cake of the ceiling’’, whichisupside down) • Two distinct presences: Tom (active, energetic, aggressive) associatedwith the ‘’assaulting’’ windthatblows, twists, ripples, flutters, whips, snaps Daisy/ women (static, passive: ‘’buoyed up’’, ‘’enchored’’) associatedwith the the white (‘’white flags’’; neutrality, impersonality) curtainsthat are blown, twisted and rippled

3. The effect of the use of onomatopoeicwords • ‘’Ripple’’, ‘’flutter ‘’- to emphasize the assaulting force of the wind • ‘’Murmur’’ – to emphasize the static/passive/stationary/motionless/inconsequentialpresence of the women

4. Whatis the function of the setting? • To emphasize the logic of paradox: Incompatibility/chaos in human relations VS. Serenity/comfort/respectability of the setting

5. Daisy’s description • Onomastics: a commonunsophisticatedflower • Use of vividlanguagethatappeals to the sense of hearing (‘’lowthrillingvoice’’, ‘’notes’’, ‘’speech arrangement’’, ‘’singing compulsion’’, ‘’whispered’’) • Use of vividlanguagethatappeals to the sense of vision (‘’face sad and lovely’’, ‘’brighteyes’’ and ‘’brightpassionatemouth’’) CONCLUSION: emphasis on the superficial; the theme of appearance vs. content

6. Excerptanalysis conclusions The binary opposition juxtaposes the male (Tom) and the female (Daisy) presences, accentuated by the following oppositions: • agent (wind) vs. object (curtains) • energetic/active vs. passive/stationary/static • assaulting/aggressive vs. pale flags of surrender INTERPRETATION: Incompatibilitythatishiddenbehind the veneer of appearances/ conventions/lifestyle