The imagery of the photograph
The opening sentence in the novel depicts the sense of sight. The author writes, "It is a sepia photo, oval-shaped, glued inside a little cardboard folder with a gold border and protected by a sheet of embossed, semitransparent paper." The author creates a visual image of her childhood to show readers that despite her poor background, her family was happy. The imagery is important because it represents the narrator's optimism for a better future. However, the narrator does not know the gender segregation that awaits her. Nevertheless, the readers realize that the narrator's optimism pays off in the later years.
The imagery of poverty
The environment in which the narrator grew up is described using imagery. The narrator says, “The woman who squatted to urinate in broad daylight, behind the shack that served coffee at the edge of the ruins in Yvetot, after the war, who stood, skirts lifted, to pull up her underwear and returned to the café." The narrator uses this imagery to represent the plight of the poor. The narrator's family lived in ruins, but that did not kill her spirit to explore her potential. After WWII, many people's lives were brought to a standstill, and the narrator's family was among the many victims who struggled to make ends meet. People do not have basic amenities and are forced to squeeze into a small place to make ends meet.
The imagery of the table of holiday meals
The striking thing in this novel is that the narrator and her family are always happy despite their challenges. For instance, the narrator says, "After the war, at the never-ending table of holiday meals, amidst the laughter and exclamations, our time will come soon enough; let's enjoy it while it lasts, other people's memories gave us a place in the world." The imagery is significant because it embodies the power of laughter and unity. The narrator's world is bright not because they are wealthy but because of the family's unity and laughter.
