In Class Essay 3

In Ann Petry's novel The Street, Perty establishes a hostile relationship between Lutie Johnson and her urban setting very quickly. Anyone can relate to the feeling one can get when it feels as if everything, even the buildings are against you. So is the situation for Lutie, and Petry cleverly establishes this with the use of literary devices to establish her meaning. With the use of personification, selection of detail, and figurative language to establish the hostile relationship between Lutie and her urban environment.

• Personification- the wind is described to have fingers, which chill Lutie's neck and make her feel naked and unprotected.
• Figurative Language- A descriptive explanation of the dismal urban setting helps establish how cold it is.
• Selection of detail  details such as the unappealing rusting sign with old paint make Lutie feel as if the urban city is a bad place to be.