Summary Of Northern Lights By Margaret Laurence

Laurence uses simile to illustrate the dynamic brilliance of the Northern Lights. When she describes wintertime in her hometown, Laurence writes, “[...] the Northern Lights flaring across the sky like the scrawled signature of God.” (Laurence 24). The use of “flaring” indicates brief and bright motion, since it is often used to describe fireworks and flares. A firework is a striking image of moving colour against a night sky, and creates a similar spectacle to that of the Northern Lights, especially since both are seen after dark. They share the same characteristic of brilliant colour enhanced by the time of day which they are both viewed. Furthermore, Laurence’s use of “flaring across” implies that the Northern Lights are travelling from one side of the sky to the other in the fashion of a flare shot into the air.
Thus, when Laurence uses fireworks as a metaphor for the Northern Lights, she connects their similar displays of colour and motion.
The phrase “scrawled signature” adds to the concept of movement since it is attached to making a pen flow across a page. When Laurence compares the Northern Lights to “God”, she creates the idea that the Northern Lights are radiant and larger than humankind. Since these characteristics apply to the universal concept of God, an association of God such as His “scrawled signature” shares those characteristics. The quality of being radiant and ethereal emphasizes the absolute brilliance of the Northern Lights. The motion of the “signature” coupled with brilliance of God creates vivid images that constantly pulls the eye. Therefore, when Laurence uses words like “flaring” and “God”, she describes the Northern Lights as dynamic and brilliant, and an aspect of wonder in her
hometown.

Laurence uses both simile and personification to depict the strange scourge of the Drought and Depression. When Laurence recounts the hardships she saw when growing up, she writes, “The Drought and Depression were like evil deities which had been there always.”(Laurence 24). The use of “deities” creates an image of otherworldly omnipotence. “Deities” refers to supreme beings found in polytheistic religion and mythology. They never originate on Earth, and so their qualities and mannerisms are often unknown. Thus, deities carry an element of foreignness. Therefore, when Laurence uses deities to personify the Drought and Depression, she implies that the Drought and Depression are alien in nature. Furthermore, deities are regarded as immortal beings who have existed and will exist forever. This not only cements the idea that the drought and depression “had been there always”, but also implies that they will continue to be present. When Laurence writes “evil deities”, she couples this strange immortality with the intent to do ill. If a deity is described as evil, it means that they are profoundly immoral and corrupt to their core. This creates an image of never-ending misfortune and implies that the average human is powerless against them because of the immortal and supernatural nature of these malevolent beings. In likening the drought and depression to evil deities, Laurence implies great and unexplained suffering, which is an aspect of horror that she experiences while growing up in her hometown.