The Simile of Effi’s Mother
Effi and her mother are having a conversation concerning her calisthenic exercises. Her mother has been watching her practice and she starts to memorize her youthful days. Reflecting on her youthful days, she wishes she could just look stunning as her daughter or a young girl in her early teen age. She says, “Once I have them on again I shall courtesy like a girl in her early teens, and when our friends in Rathenow come over I shall sit in Colonel Goetze’s lap and ride a trot horse.” Effi’s mother wishes to be back to her short clothes again represents the youthfulness in her despite her old age.
A daughter of the air (metaphor)
Effi and her mother are having a conversation concerning her calisthenic exercises. Her mother has been watching her practice and she starts to memorize her youthful days. Reflecting on her youthful days, she wishes she could just look stunning as her daughter or a young girl in her early teenage years. She says, "Once I have them on again I shall courtesy like a girl in her early teens, and when our friends in Rathenow come over I shall sit in Colonel Goetze's lap and ride a trotting horse." Effi's mother wishes to be back in her short clothes again represents the youthfulness in her despite her old age.
Lymphatic Blonde (Metaphor)
Effi is being referred to as ‘a daughter of the air’ by her mother metaphorically to mean that she is extremely talented. Effi has perfected performing her calisthenic exercises and her mother is fond of her. Effi is complimented by her mother as a way of motivation. The mother says, “Effi you really ought to have been an equestrienne, I am thinking. Always on a trapeze, always a daughter of the air. I almost believe you would like something of that sort.” The statement reveals to the reader that Effi deserves to be the best calisthenic performer because she is compared to an equestrienne by her mother.
The Hulls (Metaphor)
The hulls are metaphorically used by the author to represent ignorance. Effi and her three friends are picking gooseberries and she reminds them not to forget to throw away the hulls because her mother does not like seeing them around. If the mother sees the hulls thrown anyhow, she scolds at Effi because it can make her fall and break her leg. However, Effi dismisses her mother's assumption that if she falls, she will break her leg. Effi assures herself that she has fallen severely and never broken her leg. Her assertions are supported by both Hertha and but Hulda dismisses them because they are just ignorant and proud. Hulda tells her friends, "One ought not to tempt fate. Pride comes before fall." Hulda foresees the downfall of Effi and her two friends if they continue dismissing the advice from the mother which reminds them of the significance of proper disposal of the hulls.
The Fourth Commandment (Metaphor)
Theodor Fontane brings the biblical narrative in her narrations when she introduces the concept of the fourth commandment. Effi is describing her mother as a beautiful woman despite being 38 years. Effi argues that if she was a young lieutenant like her papa, she will fall in love with her mama. Hulda takes Effi's sentiments wrongly and assumes that Effi does not respect her parents. Hulda believes that nasty words or jokes should not be directed to parents at any cost and Effi is going against that. The Fourth commandment is found in the Book of Genesis in the Holy Bible and it states that children must respect their parents unconditionally. When Effi makes a joke of her parents, Hulda says, "Oh, Effi, how can you say such a thing? Why that is contrary to the fourth commandment.” Hulda means that Effi does not respect her parents and that is against the fourth commandment.
