L'Ingenu Metaphors and Similes

L'Ingenu Metaphors and Similes

The garments of a miserable one (metaphor)

When St. Yves was sent to the convent, the Huron was desperate, he “walked toward the sea-coast wrapped in deep and gloomy melancholy”. Wearing such garments show was miserable he was that even “double charged fusee upon his shoulder, and his cutlass by his side, shooting now and then a bird” did not make him happy. “He often tempted to shoot himself; but he had still some affection for life, for the sake of his dear mistress”.

Prison – the source of wisdom (metaphor)

In the prison the Huron was much more enlightened than in freedom: “The young Huron resembled one of those vigorous trees, which, languishing in an ungrateful soil, extend in a little time their roots and branches when transplanted to a more favorable spot; and it was very extraordinary that this favorable spot should be a prison.” The metaphor shows that it does not matter where the person is, what matters is person’s desire to study and improve; the inner world and state of mind are more important that the place or any other external things.

Myths heroes (simile)

When the Huron was baptized, he received the name Hercules, the allusion to the Greek myths is used. Along with this the author alludes to the Hercules’ heroic deeds, and when the Huron is refused to marry with St. Yves “he became as furious as was his patron Hercules, when Euritus, king of Œchalia, no less cruel than the Abbé of St. Yves, refused him the beauteous Iola, his daughter, not inferior in beauty to the Abbé's sister.” The Huron is compared with Hercules, the Abbot St. Yves with Euritus, and beautiful St. Yves with Iola.

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