The Idea Of Perfection Kate Grenville Summary

The extract from Kate Grenville’s “The Idea of Perfection” is one that focuses on a particular bridge, located over Cascade Rivulet, probably in the outskirts of their town. In this passage, the extensive use of descriptive language is clear; the main character picks up many details of the bridge and its surroundings as she explores it. A thematic point in this extract is linked with the title, “The Idea of Perfection”, where through the tranquil style in which this extract is written, we get an idea that his bridge, though it looks simple, is in its own way, an idea of perfection.
The setting is central to this passage, it revolves around a bridge, above a river called Cascade Rivulet, lying downhill. A flat paddock with cows beside the bridge
suggest a rural environment, with farms nearby, Lines 15 to 20 explains why the main character decided to explore this area: the local community is split between keeping the bridge as a part of the area’s cultural heritage, and demolishing the bridge. A picture of the bridge on the local newspaper probably perked up the main character’s interest of the bridge, as she “recognised it straight away from its picture in the paper”.
The passage is structured in short paragraphs, typically like that of a novel or extended text. Almost every sentence contains some sort of descriptive language such as adjectives or adverbs, which highlights the writer’s attempt to insert all the details possible for this setting to paint readers the picture of perfection that she picks up from the bridge. The constant use of positive connotative words such as “together”, “glinting”, “transparent”, “quaint” suggest that the author, as well as the main character, adores this setting. Most sentences are of a compound or complex nature, which helps the author slow down the pace and depict the setting in more detail, allowing readers to have a more complete appreciation of the passage, and the bridge which it revolves around.
Use of contrast in this passage is evident, many of which suggest the main character is sensitive to the setting, and we as readers get the idea that her emotion are evoked easily in this passage.
In the second paragraph, for instance, she “laughed aloud” when she sees that “someone had tied a stone” under a sign which reads “Hanging Rock”. However, in the third paragraph, we are told that “It was not really all that funny”. This instance emphasises that the main character has a somewhat “bubbly” nature, and emotions in her can be triggered very easily. This nature explains how the main character can pick up many details in the setting that others look past upon, for example; “Where a band of sun cast a slice of black shadow, the water was dark and secretive.”
The tone of voice in this passage is tranquil and elegant. This is especially reflected on the bridge, the central object in the passage. From its physical appearance above: the main character describes it as “a humble little thing, the bend giving it an apologetic look”. The words “humble” and “apologetic” personifies the bridge; as readers we get the idea that the bridge looks timid, yet contains a form of elegance and beauty. In the latter part of the passage this is explored more in detail, especially through the use of contrast, where we follow the main character underneath the
bridge.
Between lines 31 to 35 we observe that the bridge underneath strikes the main character immediately. “The Idea of Perfection” is emphasised again, through the simile “It was like two people holding hands” – the feeling of being together is none less than an essence of perfection. The combined use of contrast and personification in lines 36 to 40 further highlights the beauty of the bridge, and enables us to connect with it; “From a distance the old wood looked nothing more interesting than grey, but close up, each timber had its own colour and its own personality.” The writer then employs listing technique to emphasise the complexity of the bridge as opposed to the simplicity we see by “from a distance; “one was pink-grey… another was green-grey… the next was the bleached blue-grey…”
Contrast is used further toward the end of the passage. In lines 43-44, the writer states that the bridge was “all coarse and clumsy”, but “the shapes fitted together in a satisfying way”. The main character then begins to attempt drawing the bridge, merely focusing on the details of the way in which the bridge is structured. Through this action the main character portrays the complexity of the bridge, and how complicated something so simple can be; “It looked so simple as to be not worth a second glance, but drawing it showed how complicated it really wad”
Through the author’s appreciation of the bridge in this extract, we as readers follow suit and explore the bridge in this more appreciative manner. I believe the writer conveys a message of appreciation in this passage: that in order to fully appreciate something, we should view things in different ways and to the fullest detail. The author sums up the bridge well; “simple squares and rectangles, simple lights and darks, arranged in a way that was not as simple as it seemed”. I believe this is the same for most things; they are not as simple as they look, and everything has their own essence of perfection, just like this bridge.