This passage from Maiden Voyage by Denton Welch is an account of an adventurous European boy in China who wishes to explore the different cultures and experience the extraordinary. Yet he is overwhelmed by the barbarity of the new culture and this reveals to the reader the unexpectedness of life from the boyÃÂs perspective. Through the first person narrative and detailed descriptions of the events, various themes such as teenage rebelliousness, gap between different cultures and our limited knowledge is highlighted through different literary features such as contrast, colour imagery and metaphor.
From the very beginning, the juxtaposition between the inside and the outside of the European villa accentuates the differences between two cultures. Inside the villa, where the foreigners live, seems to be more secure and settled as reflected by the reference to the ÃÂstable doorsÃÂ. The boyÃÂs observation of the ÃÂsigns of cultivationÃÂ also hints the civilised European culture inside the walls.
This perhaps links to Mr ButlerÃÂs comment that ÃÂforeigners are not very popularÃÂ and people outside and foreigners have separate communities. The main character using ÃÂmoth eaten balls and the old tennis racketÃÂ shows that young people like himself used to stay at the villa, but not for long periods of time ÃÂ it is where people donÃÂt appreciate the thoughts of the young. As the plot develops, the change in the setting is emphasized by imagery. Words such as ÃÂa black speckÃÂ and ÃÂa dark boulderÃÂ are colour imageries used to foreshadow the unfavourable and unexpected event. Outside of the European villa, the ÃÂhuman headÃÂ that the boy has found implies that the culture outside is in a way, barbaric. This is supported by cruel images such as ÃÂodd white teeth stood up like ninepins in its dark, gaping mouthÃÂ, ÃÂits cheeks and shrivelled lips...
Oh!! forgot to mention..
This doesn't have a bibliography
0 out of 0 people found this comment useful.