Strings of Shiny Red Hearts (Visual Imagery)
Although she is reluctant to attend, Bridget agrees to her father's request that she go to the ruby wedding celebration Mark Darcy is throwing for his parents. Upon arriving, Bridget and her father are in awe of the elaborate decorations: "All the trees were dotted with red fairy lights and strings of shiny red hearts [and there was] a dramatic curved pale wood stairway lit by red heart-shaped candles on each step." In this example of visual imagery, Bridget details how Mark has created an atmosphere that stuns his guests and shows his admiration for his parents and their relationship.
Hideous Yellow and Black (Visual Imagery)
Tom, one of Bridget's closest friends, disappears from her life briefly, provoking panic throughout the friend group. Eventually Bridget realizes she has a spare key to Tom's flat and so goes over with several mutual friends. Upon arriving, the women learn that Tom has been hiding from the world as he recovers from an operation to remove a minuscule bump in his nose. Bridget comments: "Tom's whole face was distorted, hideous yellow and black, and encased in plaster." In this example of visual imagery, Tom's unexplained absence suddenly makes sense, as a simple surgery has resulted in such an extreme change in appearance that he is too embarrassed to see or speak to any of his friends until he recovers.
Let Out a High-Pitched Noise (Auditory Imagery)
Following Valentine's Day, Bridget discovers that her downstairs neighbor has neglected to pick up a card in the hallway that's addressed to neither of them. The women eventually decide to open it together, and the downstairs neighbor reads the inside: "A piece of ridiculous and meaningless commercial exploitation—for my darling little frigid cow." Realizing the joking insult is from Daniel, Bridget comments, "I let out a high-pitched noise." In this example of auditory imagery, the combination of surprise, delight, and embarrassment Bridget feels is captured in a single high-pitched sound.
Baking Mince Pies Smells (Olfactory Imagery)
In early December, Bridget is at the supermarket when she finds herself "unaccountably thinking of Christmas trees, firesides, carols, mince pies." It doesn't take her long to realize her thoughts of Christmas are being triggered by the store's air vents, which instead of the usual baking-bread smells are "pumping out baking mince pies smells." In this example of olfactory imagery, the festive scents of mince pies fill the air in the supermarket and make it impossible for Bridget not to think about the upcoming holidays.
