Ann Petry Prose Response
8 September 2013
Ann Petry Prose Response
In the selection from The Street, Ann Petry most frequently employs personification to provide insight into Lutie Johnson’s disgust with the wind and how that, in turn, builds a bitter relationship between the protagonist and the city setting. To begin the passage, Petry sets a dark, desolate mood as she personifies the wind as relentless and assaulting. It is made blatantly clear that the weather “did everything it could to discourage the people along the street” and is restraining to the inhabitants of the city. Petry utilizes vivid words to enhance the strength and vigour of the wind, further adding to the life-like qualities that the wind possesses. The first encounter between Lutie Johnson and the wind is at line 34 which aids in effectively establishing the persona of the wind, and its relationship with the city. Again, Petry exercises the use of personification in making their first meeting uncomfortable and chilling. As Ms. Johnson is introduced, the wind is molesting her in a way. One can imagine that the wind is a man that completely disregards those on the receiving end of his actions. It lifts the hair away from her neck and she feels “suddenly naked”. Once more, the wind is personified as having fingers which “[touch] the back of her neck [and explore] the sides of her head”. Towards the end of passage, it is made apparent that Lutie has a reason to be outside on such a cold, daunting day. Her ardour for finding a respectable tenement in which to reside is shown very clearly when Petry explains that Lutie would settle for nothing less than a three room apartment. Although determined, Ludie seems like an outcast in the city. Few people are on the streets, and those that are, seem to be making their way to shelter. Petry mentions that there is trash strewn along the street which implies that the city is usually full of life. As if the wind sexually assaulting her wasn’t enough, the antagonist
Ann Petry Prose Response
In the selection from The Street, Ann Petry most frequently employs personification to provide insight into Lutie Johnson’s disgust with the wind and how that, in turn, builds a bitter relationship between the protagonist and the city setting. To begin the passage, Petry sets a dark, desolate mood as she personifies the wind as relentless and assaulting. It is made blatantly clear that the weather “did everything it could to discourage the people along the street” and is restraining to the inhabitants of the city. Petry utilizes vivid words to enhance the strength and vigour of the wind, further adding to the life-like qualities that the wind possesses. The first encounter between Lutie Johnson and the wind is at line 34 which aids in effectively establishing the persona of the wind, and its relationship with the city. Again, Petry exercises the use of personification in making their first meeting uncomfortable and chilling. As Ms. Johnson is introduced, the wind is molesting her in a way. One can imagine that the wind is a man that completely disregards those on the receiving end of his actions. It lifts the hair away from her neck and she feels “suddenly naked”. Once more, the wind is personified as having fingers which “[touch] the back of her neck [and explore] the sides of her head”. Towards the end of passage, it is made apparent that Lutie has a reason to be outside on such a cold, daunting day. Her ardour for finding a respectable tenement in which to reside is shown very clearly when Petry explains that Lutie would settle for nothing less than a three room apartment. Although determined, Ludie seems like an outcast in the city. Few people are on the streets, and those that are, seem to be making their way to shelter. Petry mentions that there is trash strewn along the street which implies that the city is usually full of life. As if the wind sexually assaulting her wasn’t enough, the antagonist