Firestone Figurative Language Summary

The use of language to push a narrative of the internal turmoil that comes with love. Firestone takes the more explanatory approach, as he writes, “Although the experience of being chosen and especially valued is exciting and can bring happiness and
fulfillment, at the same time, it can be frightening and the fear often translates into anger and hostility,” which illustrates and explains how and why people can tend to lash out when shown affection. Even in a relatively plain article without much figurative language to speak of, Firestone still clearly illustrates the contrast between the expected reaction and reality, with a sudden shift in tone mid-sentence to draw the reader’s attention to his point. As for a more figurative and thought provoking

text on the subject, T.S. Eliot takes a more poetic approach to the subject. His repetition of the phrase “In the room the women come and go / Talking of Michelangelo,” immediately followed by switching to the point of view of the main character of the story, Prufrock, where he says, “To wonder, ‘Do I dare?’ and, ‘Do I dare?’ / Time to turn back and descend the stair,” says several things about the main character and about love itself. Eliot not only establishes the women in this room to be supposed love interests to Prufrock, but also establishes a metaphor for Prufrock’s love. By establishing the light, playful, comfortable atmosphere that these women are in separate from the dark, gloomy, dirty city outside their window, Eliot shows the reader Prufrock’s desire for love and happiness, but also his fear of being cast away. Such leads Prufrock to stay in his comfort zone, the gloominess of the outside, out of fear instead of taking a risk in order to pursue love and happiness.