One of the most commonly used devices in literature is personification. Personification refers to a figure of speech where an inanimate object, an idea, or an animal gains human qualities. In this device, the portrayal of non-human objects is in such a way that they appear to possess human like ability. This device is important since it connects the personified object with the reader. Personification has the ability to improve the vividness of description of non-human objects. Another advantage is that it can help the readers to understand non-human characters and to sympathize with, and react emotionally to non-human characters. In the first chapter, it is evident that inanimate objects gain human qualities such as a body and mind as well as an ability to perform human actions like touching.
In the opening chapter, the book describes a “cold November wind” which represents personification because in this description, Petry creates a mind and body for the wind. According to her, the wind has human qualities such as the ability to touch, illustrated when she talks of the wind’s fingers exploring the side of the girl’s head. This gives a body to this wind hence personifying it. Another example arises where she talks of the wind forcing people back to their sanctuaries and discouraging them. This implies that the wind can think for itself, a human quality.
The wind’s actions foreshadow the rest of the book through hinting at the struggles that the book’s characters have to go through in order to fulfill their life goals and ambitions. The wind also becomes a symbol for the obstacles, as well as the challenges that will stand in the way of their goals. An example is Lutie Johnson, who has to encounter obstacles all along her path to achieving her goals. These are similar to the tossing done by the wind. (310 words)
