Despair
The narrator uses the imagery of the bottles on the counter to depict the sadness and gloom surrounding the wake. As such, the bottles represent the people's attempt to drown their sorrows in alcohol. The fact that they are "opened but the contents have not proved popular" denotes that they are trying to numb their grief, but not succeeding. The empty bottles that have been used also suggest the same thing, as if the people were so desperate that they had used up all of the alcohol. The imagery of the dark living room, with its "long slits in the wall", and the "old shabby rugs laid down on squares of plywood" express the despair and gloom. Thus, it is used to show the helplessness of the people in the face of death, and their inability to find solace in alcohol.
Wedding Plan
The narrator utilizes imagery to display the preparations for the upcoming wedding. Specifically, the description of the wedding dress being made by Miss Cornish stands out. She writes that she is standing in her "underclothes all stuck together with pins" and being "barked at to stay still". This imagery displays the bride-to-be in a vulnerable and uncomfortable position while being bossed around by the dressmaker. This detail conveys the stress and chaos of the wedding preparations, while also highlighting the importance of appearances and tradition in the lead-up to the wedding. Additionally, the description of the "whirlwind of things that have to be done" show the urgency and panic that the bride and her friends are feeling as they try to get everything done in time.
Storm
Another imagery in the narration is the description of the storm that had passed through the area. The narrator asserts, "In a quarter of an hour the storm had passed over. But branches lay across the road, hydro lines were down, and a large chunk of the plastic roofing over the ring had been torn loose." This imagery helps the reader to experience the intensity of the storm that had passed through the area and the destruction it left behind. It also aids to set the scene as Clark is now trying to find a place to buy roofing to repair the damage. The intense description of the storm helps to create a sense of urgency and shows the reader just how grave the situation is.
July Day
The imagery of "the true brightness of a July day" depicts the sense of hope and optimism that Carla feels as she escapes. The sun is described as shining, the wine glasses sparkling, and the countryside is "changing, shaking itself loose" into a state of brightness, a time of renewal and new beginnings. The details of the imagery, such as the "Summer clouds, not rain clouds, were scudding across the sky" and "no big puddles in the fields, showing where the seed had washed out, no miserable spindly cornstalks or lodged grain" accentuate Carla's newfound sense of optimism. The description of the bright July day symbolizes Carla's hope that she and Clark can find success in a different place, which reinforces her belief that she is making the right decision in leaving.
