A Literary Analysis Of Katharine Brush's Birthday Party

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Sometimes the things we do for others don’t always go as planned. That was the case for the innocent wife in “Birthday Party” by Katharine Brush, as what was thought to be a nice gesture by the wife, was viewed as a crime by her husband. This small event can be an indicator of a crumbling relationship, and through literary devices such as diction and shifts to portray this deeper meaning. The harsh adjectives used throughout this piece paint a story much darker than simple botched celebration. When the author writes “I saw him say something to her under his breath- some punishing thing, quick and curt, and unkind” By describing the husband’s words to be so abusive, it leads readers to infer that the integrity of this relationship is shaky,