Stars
The imagery brings to vivid life the power to imagine the familiarity of the flickering little lights we know as stars. “Lights began twinkling — little stars, blooming irises of blue and purple and white. I reached…and starlight danced on my fingertips…I shifted the star between my fingers like a coin on the hand of a magician.” These are not actual stars seen in the darkness of the night, but the concept of stars recreated from the familiarity of experience. The additional layer of comparison to colorful flowers appeals to the sensory desire to find color even in the world of darkness. Within context, it is not entirely clear what is happening in this scene and the reference to an act of magic underscores the uncertainty.
Escape
The protagonist makes her great escape after spending an extended period of time in bondage. “Fire erupted, and the Weaver’s shriek was so piercing I thought my head might shatter; thought my blood might boil in its veins.” The imagery here appeals to the desperation of the narrator and the excitement of pending freedom. The visceral description of the sound of Weaver’s cry and the raging state of her emotions is very effectively conveyed.
A Queen
According to the narrator, at least, a queen really should be recognizable on sight. “She wore deepest red, the gossamer and gauze of her sleeveless gown clinging to her breasts and hips, while carefully placed shafts left much of her stomach and back exposed. Her hair was down in rippling waves, and cuffs of solid gold glinted around her wrists.” This passage is the description of a woman identified as a queen by the narrator. It is problematic for the reader, however, because the emphasis on anatomical features which is the focus of this imagery is similar to descriptions of other female characters in the story, especially the narrator herself.
A Guy Named Rhys
The narrator’s complicated feelings toward a character named Rhys are intensified with the use of imagery. “He stalked closer, his movements feline, those violet eyes turning subdued — lethal.” This language describes the movement of a threat. The choice of language creates an image that is at odds with that threat. The comparison to a cat and the specificity of the color violet all insinuate something softer than the menace of the actions indicate.
