Author, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, in her autobiographical work, “Moon Shell” utilizes figurative language and selection of detail to develop her argument on solitude. Lindbergh opens her work by setting the stage with a detailed illustration describing the Moon shell’s beauty. Beginning with the Moon shell’s physical appearance, Lindbergh paints the readers “a snail shell, round, full and glossy as a horse chestnut” and draws the reader’s attention to “its smooth, symmetrical face” which is “pencilled with precision a perfect spiral.”(Lindbergh Para. 1) Through the comparison of the shell’s “glossy” surface to that of a “horse chestnut” Lindbergh corresponds with the reader’s sense to provide a clear vivid image of the shell. This description …show more content…
Lindbergh lionizes “how wonderful are islands” due to the fact that she is “ringed about by miles of water.” The positive word choice “wonderful” and the phrase “ringed about by miles of water” allows the reader to make the connection that islands are states of isolation and are in fact satisfying. Providing this symbol, Lindbergh further suggests that “people too, become like islands.” Her comparison and connection to the islands to people reveals to the reader that solitude is part of human nature. Her figurative phrase “I feel we are all islands” communicates to the reader that impacting truth that humans are “in last… alone.” Asserting this general truth, Lindbergh continues and draws a parallel of her idea of the importance of solitude to the fact that “one hates to think oneself as alone.” Lindbergh breaks away from her previous ideas and juxtaposes her position by including a common reason why people disapprove solitude,the “notion of feeling rejection or unpopularity.” To further explain this reason Lindbergh provides a relatable situation of a “wall flower sitting in a straight backed chair alone” because “the popular girls were already chosen” This anecdote reminds the reader of the situations they face in real life and reminds the similar struggle to fit in with the crowd. The phrase “straight backed chair alone” illustrates the uncomfortable position of the girl, employing the uneasiness of being by oneself. Lindbergh communicates that as important solitude is it is difficult to obtain due to the aspects of society and