In “The Lamp of Psyche” by Edith Wharton, Delia Corbet looks back
unto her previous marriage, that had failed. Wharton employees many
literary tools to convey Delia as a complex character. One of most important
tools to be noted is her diction and syntax, while she also uses
juxtapositions, metaphors and polysyndeton techniques. All her choices lead
to Delia having in depth thoughts, and a mosaic of emotions whilst looking
back on her marriage. Wharton’s ability to make a character have a
convoluted sense of self makes her characters, such as Delia Corbet,
complex and interesting which contributes to her works.
Edith Wharton introduces Delia Corbet in the first line of the excerpt,
and she instantly goes into addressing the fact that Delia is divorced. The
information is not implied, she leaves it out in the open starting the excerpt
with “Delia Corbet, as Delia Benson had been a very good wife to her first
husband.”. This is used to juxtapose the idea of Delia being secretive about
her previous failed marriage. It is not something she sought to hide, just as
Wharton did not hide the message in a way intended to be analyzed out.
Both share the information freely from what is given in the small portion of
the work.
Following her comparison Edith Wharton beings to highlight some of
Delia’s mistakes or flaws saying she was “laxly tolerant” and that her
thoughts and desires were not of a “tangible nature.” This information
instantly makes Delia complex. Wharton conveys, that Delia had wild and
“intangible” desires, not a straightforward way of thinking, and she felt hard
emotions. Delia being tolerant of her husband’s actions imply that she was
often hurt by his choices, yet the stigma of divorce kept her. This convoluted
idea further deepens Delia’s character.
The Syntax of the excerpt continuously builds complexity aswel. In
many instances Edith Wharton uses semicolons, commas, and parentheses
to recount Delia’s marriage. Using those grammar techniques in comparison
to single sentences makes the work more complex. Then this is once again
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 04-11-2023 12:25:38 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/91414364/Prose-Essay-1docx/
unto her previous marriage, that had failed. Wharton employees many
literary tools to convey Delia as a complex character. One of most important
tools to be noted is her diction and syntax, while she also uses
juxtapositions, metaphors and polysyndeton techniques. All her choices lead
to Delia having in depth thoughts, and a mosaic of emotions whilst looking
back on her marriage. Wharton’s ability to make a character have a
convoluted sense of self makes her characters, such as Delia Corbet,
complex and interesting which contributes to her works.
Edith Wharton introduces Delia Corbet in the first line of the excerpt,
and she instantly goes into addressing the fact that Delia is divorced. The
information is not implied, she leaves it out in the open starting the excerpt
with “Delia Corbet, as Delia Benson had been a very good wife to her first
husband.”. This is used to juxtapose the idea of Delia being secretive about
her previous failed marriage. It is not something she sought to hide, just as
Wharton did not hide the message in a way intended to be analyzed out.
Both share the information freely from what is given in the small portion of
the work.
Following her comparison Edith Wharton beings to highlight some of
Delia’s mistakes or flaws saying she was “laxly tolerant” and that her
thoughts and desires were not of a “tangible nature.” This information
instantly makes Delia complex. Wharton conveys, that Delia had wild and
“intangible” desires, not a straightforward way of thinking, and she felt hard
emotions. Delia being tolerant of her husband’s actions imply that she was
often hurt by his choices, yet the stigma of divorce kept her. This convoluted
idea further deepens Delia’s character.
The Syntax of the excerpt continuously builds complexity aswel. In
many instances Edith Wharton uses semicolons, commas, and parentheses
to recount Delia’s marriage. Using those grammar techniques in comparison
to single sentences makes the work more complex. Then this is once again
This study source was downloaded by 100000850872992 from CourseHero.com on 04-11-2023 12:25:38 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/91414364/Prose-Essay-1docx/
