The author of When She Woke, Hillary Jordan, uses several different literary techniques throughout her novel to develop characters and the reader’s opinions of those characters. The use of flashbacks greatly develops Hannah’s characters along with Reverend Aidan Dale’s character by revealing different events that occurred leading up to Hannah’s stay at The Chrome. Also, the use of motifs is a literary device that greatly develops Hannah’s character.
As this novel progresses, Hannah’s character and story are revealed through several flashbacks that she has while staying in the Chrome. The flashbacks tell the stories of how she ended up in the Chrome and the relationships she has with several of the other characters. For example, we learn about her relationship with her sister. Hannah and Becca may have a rocky relationship, but Becca was one of the few she was able to open up to and after Hannah’s scandal her sister disowns her. However, through a flashback, the readers learn that their relationship became rocky because of her sister’s marriage to Cole, who was a traditionalist and whose views contradict with many of Hannah's. When Cole and Rebecca got married is es explained that “Hannah had no one with whom she could share her inner life” (48). This flashback helps the reader better understand Hannah and causes us to sympathize with her for we see she has lost connections with many people.
A flashback that helps develop Reverend Dale’s character is when he confesses his feelings for Hannah. Reverend Dale says to Hannah “I love you, but I can never leave Alyssa [his wife]. I can't bring that kind of shame on her. Do you understand? You and I will never be able to love each other openly… You deserve that, with someone, a husband, a family.” (63). This reveals a lot about Reverend Dale’s character, up to this point I personally viewed his as a coward who had no feelings for Hannah, however, my opinion on him is not as strong anymore. I still feel as if he is a coward for leaving Hannah to deal with the pregnancy on her own, however, the fact that he actually loved Hannah shows that she was not just some girl to him. I understand more so now than before why he has her do this on her own, he is protecting his image as a Revered and sparing his wife's dignity. To go along with the knowledge revealed in the flashback, the readers also get knowledge is current times that Reverend Dale helps Hannah get a spot at Straight Path Center, which is similar to a halfway house. The fact that Reverend Dale sets up a place for Hannah to go once she is released from Chrome shows he truly does care about her.
The use of the motif of color, mostly the use of red, also helps develop Hannah's character.The color red has many different meanings and representations behind it. Red oftentimes symbolizes blood which for the case of When She Woke, is a very accurate piece of symbolism because Hannah is turned red because of the abortion that she has which in the society she lives in is considered murder. The mention of the color red occurs at least 2/3 times per section, often times it is a transition from the past to the present and it never has a positive connotation. For example, "I am red now. It was her first thought of the day, every day, surfacing after a few seconds of fogged, blessed ignorance and sweeping through her like a wave, breaking in her breasts with a soundless roar." (52), this quote is used to transition Hannah out of a flashback into present time in her cell. The use of this motif is also very important because the color red is now what Hannah identifies herself as and it is also how society now sees her. Hannah is now viewed only by the color of her skin and is judged and treated differently for it. The color motif is essential in the novel especially when it comes to Hannah's character.
The use of these literary devices is a huge part of Hillary Jordan's writing style. She uses these devices to not only help develop the different characters but to also develop the viewpoint that readers have on each of the characters. These literary devices help shape the work, personally I think that the use of the flashbacks adds a lot of interesting insight into Hannah's story and it what makes the novel more interesting. In my opinion, the novel is as great as it is because of Jordan's use of these literary devices.
It seems that there are very interesting characters within the novel! Throughout your analysis I found myself wishing I could have more knowledge on some of the examples you give, is this a book you would suggest to other people?
ReplyDeleteAlexis, I thought you did a great job covering many of the stylistic elements in the novel, while also explaining how these elements impacted the reader's view of the characters. The quotes that you chose were very fitting and added to your arguments quite nicely. I also really appreciated your focus on the flashbacks, as they give the reader a necessary basis of knowledge about Hannah.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I talked about in my style post was the many connections and allusions to The Scarlet Letter. I was wondering what you thought of these connections. How do you think they affect the novel and help to characterize Hannah and Aidan?
Good discussion of style. I think you're right that Rev. Dale's flashbacks provide a bit more of a positive view of him but isn't there still quite a bit of cowardice in him not taking more responsibility for what he has done?
ReplyDeleteAs Isabel points out in her comment, the link to the Scarlet Letter, and the intentional re-writing of that book, can't be forgotten. It's interesting how in both novels it is the woman who must pay the most for the actions of two individuals, the affair in one and the abortion in the other. What might Jordan be trying to suggest with this?