Injustice (Metaphor)
Unlike other young women of her age, Gertrude didn’t dream about a marriage. Her main concern was their father’s sudden death and lack of money for her sisters and – obviously – her. She was both scared and sad, but she did her best to hide her true feelings. That “burden” was “too heavy and too cruel” for her “young strength,” but Gertrude wasn’t going to give up without a fight. She would succeed no matter what. Misfortunes were just a temporary inconvenience, because the girls had knowledge, experience and – what was more important – they had each other and that meant something in that cruel world.
Getting rid of the past (Metaphor)
Constance Devonshire, “heedless of her magnificent attire,” “cast herself down” by the side of Gertrude, and “put her arms carelessly around her.” Constance’s “quick blue eye fell upon the basket” with its “overflowing papers.” “Gerty, what is the meaning of this massacre of the innocent?” As it turned out to be, Gertrude threw away “all” her “tales and things.” No matter how painful it was to say bye to her old dream, Gertrude was determined to get rid of the past. That little act was supposed to help her to realize that it would never be as it used to be. Her father was dead, they were terribly poor, there was no one to help them, but that also meant that they didn’t have any other choice but succeed.
Hope (Metaphor)
Constance didn’t understand Gertrude, since she might have sold all her wonderful stories. They were so nice, so beautifully written, so dear to Gertrude that Conny couldn’t believe her eyes, Gertrude was throwing away one of the most important parts of her life. The young woman was shocked to find “Charlotte Corday” in that pile too! “Poor Charlotte, she has been to market so often” that Gertrude couldn’t “bear the sight of her.” Her best work reminded Gertrude of her own failure. It was easier to get rid of it and erase those recollections from her memory. Conny simply didn’t understand that it would be better to do it this way.
Exhausted (Simile)
Gertrude needed to be brave in order to persuade the sisters to support her idea of opening a shop. She hid her own fear and hesitation, preferring to deal with it on her own. However, no matter how hard she tried, people who knew her well enough could see how tired and worried Gertrude really was. The woman looked “as pale as a ghost,” but she refused to “lie down” and have some so much needed rest. Gertrude felt responsible for her family and their fortune, the weight of it prevented her from getting a good sleep.
