ISP - Child's Play
The Devil Inside
In life, everyone has experiences which cause them to lose sight of who they truly are. In these situations one will face challenges and discover their darkest desires and deepest temptations. In Alice Munro’s short story Child’s Play, the conflict between Verna, Marlene and Charlene is portrayed through Munro’s use of literary devices which ultimately reveals the loss of innocence experienced by the characters. This is evident in Marlene and Charlene’s life as the use of imagery exploits the drastic transformation they experience. Similarly, foreshadowing techniques display the inner turmoil the protagonists are facing. Lastly, situational irony is used to show the characters final transition from the innocent people they were to the guilty people they have become. The narrator uses imagery to give insight on Marlene and Charlene’s characters, revealing their loss of innocence. As Marlene grows up, she begins to recognize the harsh realities of the world around her. The change is evident when she describes these changes from her own perspective, “Every year when you’re a child, you become a different person. Generally it’s in the fall when you re-enter school, take your place in a higher grade, and leave behind the muddle of summer vacation. That’s when you register the change most on” (Munro 1). The use of imagery in this situation clearly shows how change is a crucial part of life and that it is unescapable. As one grows up, childhood fantasies begin to fade as darkness consumes the innocence of the world. Through continuous use of imagery, Munro describes the deterioration of the conflicted mental states of the protagonists. This struggle between right and wrong is seen when Marlene and Charlene decide to drown Verna. “Verna’s head did not break from the surface… she was turning in a leisurely way, light as a jellyfish in the water. Charlene and I had our hands on her, on her rubber cap” (Munro 12). The actions of the protagonists show the
In life, everyone has experiences which cause them to lose sight of who they truly are. In these situations one will face challenges and discover their darkest desires and deepest temptations. In Alice Munro’s short story Child’s Play, the conflict between Verna, Marlene and Charlene is portrayed through Munro’s use of literary devices which ultimately reveals the loss of innocence experienced by the characters. This is evident in Marlene and Charlene’s life as the use of imagery exploits the drastic transformation they experience. Similarly, foreshadowing techniques display the inner turmoil the protagonists are facing. Lastly, situational irony is used to show the characters final transition from the innocent people they were to the guilty people they have become. The narrator uses imagery to give insight on Marlene and Charlene’s characters, revealing their loss of innocence. As Marlene grows up, she begins to recognize the harsh realities of the world around her. The change is evident when she describes these changes from her own perspective, “Every year when you’re a child, you become a different person. Generally it’s in the fall when you re-enter school, take your place in a higher grade, and leave behind the muddle of summer vacation. That’s when you register the change most on” (Munro 1). The use of imagery in this situation clearly shows how change is a crucial part of life and that it is unescapable. As one grows up, childhood fantasies begin to fade as darkness consumes the innocence of the world. Through continuous use of imagery, Munro describes the deterioration of the conflicted mental states of the protagonists. This struggle between right and wrong is seen when Marlene and Charlene decide to drown Verna. “Verna’s head did not break from the surface… she was turning in a leisurely way, light as a jellyfish in the water. Charlene and I had our hands on her, on her rubber cap” (Munro 12). The actions of the protagonists show the