The imagery of sight
McCullers commences his book by depicting the imagery of sight to the reader when he starts to describe the last years of T.J. Malone. Malone is living in the Southern town characterized by the radiant nights. The author says, “The winter of his fortieth year was an unusually cold one for the Southern town with ice, pastel days, and radiant nights.” Through this imagery, the reader gets an imaginative picture of the Southern town. The radiant nights represent the dark days of Malone. Besides experiencing radiant nights, the town is cold and icy because it is during the winter season.
The imagery of the Veins
During the last days of Malone, his health deteriorates badly. The author uses the imagery of sight to portray the real picture of Malone’s failing body. The author hints that Malone’s veins are visibly pulsed and this makes it hard for him to chew or swallow anything. The imagery plays a significant role in helping the reader to see how Malone is struggling with his health. The author writes, “His temples were shrunken so that the veins pulsed visibly when he chewed or swallowed and his Adam’s apple struggled in his thin neck.” Consequently, Malone is not able even to eat an indication that his health situation is becoming worse.
The Imagery of Smell
Malone walks into the upper floor to see the doctor because he feels that he needs a checkup. After a check-up, Malone becomes apprehensive because he suspects that the results are not welcoming. The doctor tries to look away to avoid direct eye contact with Malone before releasing the check-up results. However, the smell that is coming from the sterile is suspicious an indication that all is not well. The author writes, “A fly puzzled in the sterile, dreary room and there was the lingering smell of either.” The lingering smell implies that something is seriously wrong with Malone’s health condition. The doctor tells Malone the plain truth about his health condition and the need for him to be serious and seek medical attention before things go out of control.
