Use of contrasts

Your exam assignment also asks you to focus on the use of contrasts in Jackie Kay’s short story “Mrs Vadnie Marlene Sevlon”. In literature, contrast is the opposite of simile; it presents the differences between two or more objects, persons, situations, etc.

“Mrs Vadnie Marlene Sevlon” begins with a contrast between the weather on the day of the narration and the previous day: “Much better than yesterday when the weather was close, so close she felt the low pressure in the air.” (ll. 2-3)

Then, the character contrasts the freedom of choice that rich people have with the limited freedom of choice of poor people (like her):

It wasn’t like she could just take her pick. Only people with money have choice; only rich people can take their pick; everyone else must stumble from pillar to post, from hope to promise, and believe in luck and God... (ll. 6-9)

Unlike rich people who have freedom of choice, ...