Conversely,
where the idea of absurdity due to extreme insignificance is to be
produced, it maybe greatly intensified by placing it after something
highly impressive: especially if the form of phrase implies that
something still more impressive is coming. A good illustration of
the effect gained by thus presenting a petty idea to a consciousness
that has not yet recovered from the shock of an exciting one, occurs
in a sketch by Balzac. His hero writes to a mistress who has cooled
towards him the following letter:
"Madame, Votre conduite m'etonne autant qu'elle m'afflige Non contente
de me dechirer le coeur par vos dedains vous avez l'indelicatesse
de me retenir une brosse a dents, que mes moyens ne me permettent
pas de remplacer, mes proprietes etant grevees d'hypotheques
"Adieu, trop, belle et trop ingrate ainie! Puissions nous nous
revoir dans un monde meilleur!
"Charles Edouard"
63. Thus we see that the phenomena of Climax, Antithesis, and
Anticlimax, alike result from this general principle. Improbable
as these momentary variations in susceptibility may seem, we cannot
doubt their occurrence when we contemplate the analogous variations
in the susceptibility of the senses.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69