Chapter 1 May Welland Quotes

Question 1

‘ A young girl with eyes ecstatically fixed on the stage-lovers’
- page 5

Answer 1

• first impression of May
  -the use of symbolism of May’s white dress suggests ideas of purity and innocence
• color symbolism of ‘white’ - the color is often associated with virginity and untainted virtue, reflects how May embodies the idealized image of women at the time
• hyperbole ‘eyes ecstatically fixed on the stage-lovers’ exaggerates may’s innocence, it suggests that she has pure romantic ideals

Question 2

‘ A warm pink mounted to the girls cheek, malted her brow to the roots of her fair braids, and suffused the young slope of her breast to the line where it met a modest tulle tucker fastened with a single gardenia’
- page 5

Answer 2

• May’s innocence, purity
• use of imagery of her blush and attire creates a vivid picture of her beauty/modesty - ideal for New York society
• use of color symbolism ‘pink’ signifies innocence

Question 3

‘she dropped her eyes to the immense bouquet of lilies-of -the-valley on her knee’
- page 5

Answer 3

• the flowers May is associated with are white and pure and associated with innocence like her
• she represents New York Society’s ideal image of a wife
• her character contrasts with Ellen Olenska - May is associated with white flowers whereas Ellen is associated with yellow flowers