Previous
Mood
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
Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis—Work Shoes:
In Chapter 2, Aibileen describes her difficult financial situation, working for the Leefolts. She needs but can't afford new work shoes. She personifies the shoes, which helps to depict her dire circumstances:
I get paid forty-three dollars ever Friday, which come to $172 a month. That means after I pay the light bill, the water bill, the gas bill, and the telephone bill, I got thirteen dollars and fifty cents a week left for my groceries, my clothes, getting my hair done, and tithing to the church. Not to mention the cost to mail these bills done gone up to a nickel. And my work shoes is so thin, they look like they starving to death.
Aibileen needs new work shoes because "they look like they starving to death." The shoes are not just old and dilapidated—the shoes struggle like a human being would struggle if they were worn down as much as the shoes are. This personifies the shoes; Aibileen implies that they are like a human collaborator in her work. This shows how Aibileen's position as a caretaker for children stretches to all parts of her life. She thinks of her shoes as just another mouth she struggles to feed. Thus, this personification illustrates both Aibileen's situation and her character.
Related Themes:
Chapter 10
Explanation and Analysis—Vacuuming the Bear:
In Chapter 10, Minny cleans Celia's house, moving slowly through each gaudily-decorated room and completing a variety of other chores. After Minny "pineapples the ham," she vacuums "the bear." It is not clear if this is a bear rug or some kind of taxidermy or trophy—though any of these would be consistent with the elaborate decor in the Foote home. Minny speaks to the bear while it stares blankly back, personifying the dead animal:
I pineapple the ham and get it in the oven. Then I dust the shelves in the hunting room, vacuum the bear while he stares at me like I’m a snack. “Just you and me today,” I tell him. As usual he doesn’t say much.
Minny ascribes a kind of joking humanity to the bear. As a domestic servant, Minny is surely used to working alone, or working while being ignored by White people. Especially given Celia's requirement that the maid remains secret, Minny feels even more isolated and alone in her work. As a result, she looks for companionship anywhere, even in the dead bear in the hunting room. The bear says nothing back: Minny's failed attempt at personification only proves how alone in the house she is. However, the humorous tone of this whole moment shows Minny's tendency for jokes in the face of adversity.
Related Themes:
