Opening statement
The novel begins with sight imagery allowing readers to see the setting and plot. The story takes place in the town of New Ross, and its environment, weather, and physical appearance are made clear using imagery. The author says, “In October, there were yellow trees. Then the clocks went back the hour, and the long November winds came in and blew and stripped the trees bare. In the town of New Ross, chimneys threw out smoke, which fell away and drifted off in hairy, drawn-out strings before disbursing along quays, and soon the River Barrow, dark as a stout, swelled up with the rain.” The imagery shows the mood and tone of the novel that the reader should expect throughout. The strong winds show optimism, while the dark River Barrow shows the sad part of the novel. This imagery is a perfect way for the author to prepare her readers on what to expect as they start reading the novel.
Mrs. Wilson’s House
The author describes Mrs. Wilson’s house as big to show her luxurious lifestyle and status in society. The author says, “His mother, at the age of sixteen, had fallen pregnant while working as a domestic for Mrs. Wilson, the protestant widow who lived in the big house a few miles outside town.” Interestingly, despite living in a big house, the author shows readers a different perspective of Mrs. Wilson. Despite being rich, Mrs. Wilson is a kind-hearted woman because she accepts Sarah and she adopts Furlong.
The saws and shovels
Furlong's timber yard is always busy, and his employees play a critical part in helping him to execute the many orders that flow from different customers. The noise of saws and shovels heard from the yard depicts hearing imagery. The narrator says, “Through the morning, the saws and the shovels could be heard going hard at it, but when the Angelus bell rang, at noon, the men laid down their tools, washed the black off their hands, and went round to Kehoe’s, where they were fed hot dinners with soup, and fish and chips on Fridays.” Consequently, the imagery shows that Furlong’s success is a product of hard work because he personally makes deliveries to his customers. It is interesting to note that Furlong does not sit down as the boss and give instructions to his employees. Instead, Furlong works very hard to act as an example to his employees.
