Katharine Brush Birthday Party

In Katharine Brush’s story, “Birthday Party,” the writer illustrates how differently people take surprises. She uses imagery, diction, metaphor and tone to portray that it is not everyone that takes surprises happily; some take is as an embarrassment. First, the writer uses imagery and metaphor to reveal that they are a couple. With the use of imagery, the writer describes the physical features of the man’s face , as it is “round,self-satisfied with glasses.” The man’s physical features, depicts his stern and conservative attitude towards people and the society. Also, the couple are in a “little narrow restaurant.” And this suggests that they don’t make that much money to afford a bigger dinning area. The writer uses metaphor to describe the woman’s “fadingly pretty” face and this shows that she is getting old and she is in her “late thirties.” Using diction, the writer reveals that it is an “occasion” and the woman made a “little surprise” party for her husband. …show more content…
The birthday cake is “glossy” with a pink candle on it. Using imagery, the writer describes how glossy the cake looks. The writer reveals how beautiful the surprise is when the orchestra plays the “Happy Birthday” song and the “applause” gotten from the small group of people in the restaurant.Moreover, the writer uses metaphor to highlight how shy and happy the woman is. The wife is filled with “shy pride” and her face beams with the little surprise she makes. Unfortunately, the husband is “hotly embarrassed” with the surprise his wife