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Definition of Personification
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the... read full definition
Section 1
Explanation and Analysis—The Jungle:
In Section 1, Tayo recalls the environment and conditions he fought in as a US soldier during WWII. Silko uses personification in the following passage to characterize this environment, noting the marked differences between the wartime jungle and the arid weather on the Laguna Pueblo reservation:
The jungle breathed an eternal green that fevered men until they dripped sweat the way rubbery jungle leaves dripped the monsoon rain.
In this passage, the narrative personifies the jungle surrounding Tayo, which "breathe[s]" an "eternal green" — a noxious poison that infects the soldiers. Tayo is unprepared to cope with jungle environments and the unique dangers they breed: gangrene, mosquitos, disease, flooding. This lack of environmental familiarity, combined with the high stakes of wartime, pushes Tayo into an antagonistic frame of mind. He comes to view the jungle as an opponent, vilifying it and cursing the never-ending dampness.
It is telling that Tayo chooses to characterize the jungle as a malignant force in the above passage, given the Laguna Pueblo people's reverence for the land and the interconnectedness of all things. True to his cultural background, Tayo soon regrets this animosity, feeling guilty for cursing the jungle and wishing the rain away. His momentary lapse returns to haunt him in the form of a drought on Laguna Pueblo land.
Related Themes:
