Journal 4: Love & Relationships

In "Sex Without Love," the author uses imagery and metaphors to explore the physical act of intimacy devoid of emotional connection. Olds compares loveless sex to dancers and ice-skaters, emphasizing its surface beauty and mechanical nature. The poem also employs juxtaposition when Olds contrasts the physical act of sex with the absence of emotional connection, underscoring the paradox and emptiness of such encounters.

In "Hades Welcomes His Bride," the author uses vivid and descriptive imagery to create mental images for the reader. Stallings describes the underworld with phrases like "thrones... of deep-black diamonds," creating a rich, dark visual that evokes the setting's grandeur and somberness. The story also uses symbolism; the underworld represents the darker aspects of Hades and Persephone's relationship, while elements like the "painted ceiling" symbolize an attempt to recreate normalcy in an abnormal setting.

In "The Storm," there is a use of symbolism, irony, and juxtaposition. The storm symbolizes Calixta and Althea’s turbulent emotions and repressed desires, representing chaos and release. Chopin juxtaposes the intense, momentary passion between Calixta and Alcee with the stable, affectionate relationship between Calixta and Bobinot, emphasizing the complexity of human emotions. The irony lies in the story's ending, "So the storm passed, and everyone was happy," which contrasts the passionate infidelity with the calm and routine of domestic life, challenging traditional moral expectations.

Sex Without Love

The Storm

Hades Welcomes His Bride