Celeste Presence
Celeste is described as being the "silver of stars" with her long, straight sheet of hair and twinkling dress. Her gloves even reach her elbows, symbolizing the Milky Way and the night sky. This imagery is used to emphasize that Celeste is only a temporary ruler due to the curse of her realm, where no one lives past the age of 25. Her fleeting presence is further emphasized through the comparison to the stars, which are both beautiful and transitory. Additionally, the contrast between Celeste's light and airy appearance and Cleo's dark and imposing presence further accentuates the idea of Celeste's mortality and fleeting presence. This imagery also serves to illustrate the differences between the rulers of each realm and how they are all unique in their way.
Danger Ahead
In the passage, the author uses the imagery of Isla’s outfit to illustrate the gravity of her situation. The outfit is described as being “smartly made Starling fabric and thin sheets of iron”. The metal pieces are accentuated to her figure and act as a form of protection, “metal shoulder pads, chain mail sleeves, and tights, metal-plated boots that ran up to the top of her thigh, a sculpted breastplate”. This imagery paints a picture of Isla’s importance in the situation, and how she is preparing for the challenge ahead. The outfit also speaks to the physical danger of the Centennial, as Isla’s ancestor lost one of her hands in a demonstration. This imagery emphasizes the dangers of the Centennial and shows that Isla is willing to take risks to protect her people.
Wild Isle
The description of a "forest of hulls" is a vivid image that conveys a sense of desolation and death. The image of twisted, bare trees swaying in the wind, vines, and roots dry and crunchy beneath their feet, and broken branches in the shapes of striking snakes alludes to a dead and barren landscape, devoid of life and color. This image reinforces the idea of the Wild Isle being a place of death and destruction and serves to highlight the contrast between the Place of Mirrors and its surroundings. The Place of Mirrors is a fragile, glass structure, standing in the center of death, that is a sharp contrast to the lifeless forest, yet it has survived when everything else has not. This imagery captures the idea of resilience and hope amid despair and hopelessness.
State of Limbo
The imagery of a "lattice of wood, thick trunks woven into webbing" evokes a feeling of being trapped, as if the islanders are imprisoned in their world. The image signifies the precarious position of the islanders, who are in a state of limbo between the mainland and their island. As the islanders climb the lattice of wood, there is a sense of urgency, as if they are desperately trying to reach something that is out of their reach. The description of the lattice of wood aids to represent the struggle the islanders are facing and the uncertainty of their future. It also highlights the powerlessness of the islanders in the face of their fate, as they can only climb it and hope to reach their destination.
