Allusions

"It was as the ass and the lap-dog, yet surely the gentle ass whose intentions were affectionate..." (pg. 81) This is just one example of the numerous allusions used throughout the story. However, there is a problem with some of these allusions. Since this novel was written almost 200 years ago, I do not recognize most of the allusions presented. All of them even have a footnote, but I am still left without really knowing the allusion for many. Becuase of this, the function of these allusions are lost and they sort of become meaningless and useless. However, it would be a different story if I understood most of them thoroughly. If I did, then they would be more useful to the novel. Allusions allow the author to explain what he wants to say with few words. This gives the reader a good sense of what he is trying to get across. By using the allusion, we have to think about what the author is saying by that allusion therefore amplifying what the author is trying to get across because were are having to think about it. I understood the allusion provided at the top because the footnote was thorough in its meaning, and this allowed to to better understand what the author was trying to say without her having to be too wordy.