Burial Rites essay

How does the use of natural imagery become a vital part of  Agnes Magnúsdóttir’s story? Iceland in the 1800’s was a hostile yet equally striking land where society was greatly shaped by the brutal conditions around them. In Hannah Kents’ Kents’ novel !urial "ites’# she pays homage to such an eerily beauti$ul landscape# whilst respecting the danger that it presents through the story o$ condemned woman %gnes &agn'sd(ttir. &agn'sd(ttir. )his un$orgiving landscape acts as a metaphorical backdrop to all that be$alls %gnes# conveyed through %gnes’ poignant lyricism. *urthermore# %gnes’ li$e is o$ten in+uenced by the superstition associated with the constantly changing weather# adding an element o$ suspense to her story. story. ,atural imagery is also utilised as a plot device# demonstrating the characters strength in times o$ such hostility. -body paragraph / Kent takes takes the harshness o$ the Icelandic weather and utilises it as a plot device# in turn eempli$ying eempli$ying the strength o$ the characters $ormed through their necessary stoicism in the $ace o$ so much hostility. hostility. )he eterior2 aspects o$ Iceland is treacherous# consisting o$ $ree3ing ice# snow and gale $orce winds. However inside the homes o$ Iceland is 4ust as dangerous# through through the damp# mould and $oul atmosphere that permeates through all lower class homes. &argr5t especially is a6ected by this# having $ormed a cough through the lack o$ ventilation and mould that has grown in her crumbling home. However it is through her su6ering and sickness that she is able to bond with %gnes. 7he becomes more grate$ul $or %gnes’ presence# acknowledging %gnes’ high level o$ practicality# which has signicantly eased her cough. &argr5t also connects with %gnes through their resemblance# not only through their practicality and level9headedness# but also due to the $act that they are both two9dying women’# a grim reality that there is nothing more $or them to do than accept. *urthermore# )(ti’s near death sickness that develops is used to demonstrate the etent o$ his devotion to %gnes. ,ot only does his absence $rom Korns: allow %gnes to open up to &argr5t# but it also makes evident the importance o$ the two $or each other. other. %midst his pain and su6ering# he is determined to see %gnes and be the one to support her# leading to her nal days. His decision to take the perilous 4ourney to Korns: Korns: accentuates his will9power and sel+ess nature# thus demonstrating his strength as a result o$ the harsh weather o$ Iceland. Kent utilises the element o$ the dangerous conditions in Iceland as a display o$ the characters strength that $orms as a result.