Language

The language of “Mrs Vadnie Marlene Sevlon” by Jackie Kay is meant to illustrate the way the main character thinks and perceives the world. The choice of words— most of them simple— shows the simple-mindedness of the character. For instance, Vadnie thinks about the elderly in the nursing home as “old mummies and daddies” (l. 116) or “grandmas and grandpas” (l. 119) which suggests Vadnie looks at the world with a child’s naivety, even though she is middle-aged.

Most of the story is conveyed in the narrative mode, mirroring an inner monologue. However, the author uses dialogue occasionally to convey conversations between the characters: “ ‘Would you manage to buy me a red cardigan,’ she asked, her voice shrill, anxious. ‘I’ll try my best,’ Vadnie found herself saying.” (ll. 132-133)

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Various other language features and devices help the author make the narrative more appealing and creative:

Similes and metaphors

Similes (comparisons) help readers understand the way Vadine’s character perceives the world and the correlations she makes. Two such examples are “the bread and cakes looked lovely, like little works of art” (ll. 37-38) and “they looked like fancy hair-dos, or wiring” (ll. 38-39)

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Repetition

Repetition is one of the most important language devices used in the story because it helps give the character authenticity. Vadnie’s character often repeats words and expressions in the same sentences. Here is one such example: “But it wasn’t like there ever seemed much choice. It wasn’t like she could just take her pick. Only people with money have choice; only rich people can take their pick…” (ll. 6-8)

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Rhetorical questions

Like with repetitions, rhetorical questions help the author give authenticity to the character’s inner monologue. Readers are given access to Vadnie’s dilemmas and concerns:

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Symbols

A few symbols are also employed in the text. The name of the care centre, Sunnyside Home for the Elderly, is an ironical symbol because the facility is described as “hell” (l. 118) for the patients who are not even allowed outside in the garden.

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