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Similes
Style
Explanation and Analysis:
Similar to its blend of genres, The Blazing World blends writing styles in its different sections. After the introductory poem written by Cavendish’s husband, the Duke of Newcastle, Cavendish begins the novel with a letter to the readers. This letter and her concluding letter frame the story and point to Cavendish’s greater argument about the important role of fantasy and imagination. Furthermore, by starting with a personalized poem and a letter to the reader about the value of inventing worlds, Cavendish blurs the lines between reality and fiction. For example, in the concluding letter, she refers to herself as being platonic friends with the Empress, implying that the Empress is a real person. This stylistic choice to directly address the reader and blur reality and fiction demonstrates the power of fiction and fantasy.
Beyond the letters, the majority of the story is narrated in the third person following the Empress’s journey. It is first told in the style of a travel narrative, recording her description of the Blazing World, and then in the style of a philosophical dialogue and debate. This travel narrative style is characteristic of the genre of utopian writing. Cavendish chronicles in detail the physical geography of the new world, the habits of its citizens, the rules of its government and society, etc. This is all related with little emotion, instead focusing on the details of the world. The style shifts during the Empress’s dialogues with the scientists and leaders of the Blazing World, turning toward philosophical discussions full of lengthy arguments.
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