Genre
A short story, a ghost story
Setting and Context
The events of the story take place in New York. The time period is the 20th century.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is told from the first point of view by the narrator named Margaret.
Tone and Mood
Margaret’s tone is thoughtful while the mood is mysterious.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Margaret is the protagonist of the story. Doctor Maradick is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is person vs. person. Margaret tries to help Mrs. Maradick and protect her from Mr. Maradick.
Climax
Mrs. Maradick’s departure is the climax of the story. It is as clear as a day that she is not going to come back.
Foreshadowing
I can still feel the delicious tremor of my young pulses.
This phrase hints that readers are going to learn a story from Margaret’s past.
Understatement
I think he didn’t even remember that you had a name.
Ronald Maradick is so loved by nurses that he simply fails to remember their names. They are just a crowd of admirers for him.
Allusions
The story alludes to a poem of Ezra Pound.
Imagery
See the Imagery section.
Paradox
She had the gravest and the sweetest face I had ever seen.
Parallelism
Millions and Millions!
Metonymy and Synecdoche
I found the dining-room deserted except for the old housekeeper, who was looking over the silver. (Silver is synecdoche that stands for forks, spoons, and knives made of silver.)
I hadn’t the heart to question. (Heart is metonymy that means courage).
Personification
In the glare of electric light.
