COMMENTARY ON CECILIA (PAGE 18-19 WHEN WE ARE FIRST INTRODUCED TO HER)

PAGE 18-19 – CECILIA AND OUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO HER

3RD Person narration – the author is all-knowing, OMNISCIENT.
the use of the words “youth”, “glory” and “blossoming” – have positive connotations and presents her youth, her situation, her ADOLESENCE, there is CONSTANT reference to EXTERNAL BEAUTY AS WELL – perhaps Cecilia is judgmental and is shallow?
“could not conceal the ugliness of the Tallis Home” – again, reference to appearance and could also be in relation to – how she feels about the people and the relationships between the people WITHIN the house? – She is perhaps desperate for a change and is looking down on her heritage, or her roots.
Reference to youth – “barely forty years old” – she is constantly worried about age and youth, her own as well as her surroundings. We can also see that most family establishments go back generations, but this is a fairly new establishment, perhaps this is foreshadowing? We can see that there is more of a history to be made of this house, more stories to come and more events to take place under its roof.
“In an alien northern climate, he was a long way from home, but he was beautiful in the morning sunlight” – perhaps she is talking about herself as she mentioned earlier to be “desperate” for something to do, maybe she is NOT in her comfort zone, and she is a long way away from her comfort zone, maybe that refers to bad relations within the Tallis household? Foreshadowing that since the relationships are NOT strong, they will soon fall apart furthermore. She is a vulnerable person, who tries to detach herself from her family.
Repetition of the word “morning sunlight” and also, the author states “The cool high shade of the woods was a relief” – perhaps this PATHETIC FALLACY indicates OPRESSIVE HEAT and this could build up tension – perhaps Cecilia’s vulnerable character is about to encounter something serious.