35 pages • 1 hour read
A Touch of Darkness
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Literary Devices
Setting
Setting is the term used to describe the location and time period of a literary work. A Touch of Darkness has a narrative-shaping setting, meaning that the setting becomes crucial to the story. The presence of the Greek Pantheon and references to Greek locations like Olympia and New Athens are vital in creating an understanding of the novel’s world. The setting blends classical elements with modernity to imagine a scenario in which gladiatorial fights can coexist with cell phones. The setting includes the added location of the Underworld, which in many ways aligns with classic Greek depictions of it. The Underworld serves to counteract the modern-day setting of the mortal world, highlighting yet another point of contrast between Persephone and the other divine beings, as she is more at home in the mortal realm than she is in any divine setting.
Retelling
A Touch of Darkness is a form of story called a retelling, a term used to describe literature that rewrites or reexplores a long-established text. Other examples of retellings include the film Gnomeo & Juliet (a retelling of Romeo and Juliet); the parody novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice); and Circe by Madeline Miller (a retelling of the Greek myths surrounding Circe). Retellings typically feature new settings, perspectives, or genre switches.
In A Touch of Darkness, the retelling aspect is evident not only in the altered setting but also in Hades and Persephone’s relationship. In the original mythos, their relationship is built on violence, and their story concludes with uncertainty as to whether they love each other. The novel features a more consensual storyline rooted in mutual love and affection. Further, Demeter’s original trauma and adoration for her daughter are transformed into a darker need to control Persephone in the novel. This is a reversal of the original dynamic of the myth, presenting a more complicated version of familial and romantic love.
Conflict
Conflict is the term used to describe opposition in a narrative to develop tension or drama. Conflict can be external—such as character versus character or character versus nature—or internal. A Touch of Darkness features both external and internal conflict centered on Persephone’s battle for independence. Externally, she grapples with both her overbearing mother and Hades’s contract. Demeter threatens to take Persephone back to her greenhouse, restricting her from the mortal realm she loves. Hades’s contract similarly challenges Persephone, demanding that she create life in exchange for her freedom. Internally, Persephone grapples with her own divinity and desires. She struggles to see herself as a goddess because of her lack of magic, and she repeatedly struggles to reconcile her attraction to Hades with her belief that his morality is questionable. These conflicts make up the central plot of the novel, but the book is accented by other minor conflicts. For example, Minthe’s clear attraction to Hades is a repeated source of jealousy, while Adonis’s maliciousness frequently makes Persephone vulnerable. These additional external conflicts help move the plot along and add intensity to the novel.
Repetition
Repetition is the repeated use of a sound, word, or phrase throughout a literary work. The most striking repetition within the novel is the repeated use of “A Touch of […]” in title chapters, in addition to the novel’s title. Eleven chapters begin with “A Touch of […]” and trace Persephone’s journey to independence. Many of the early chapters are titled to express her feelings, such as “jealousy” or “desire.” They indicate her grappling with how she feels for Hades and her attempts to reconcile those emotions with what she believes to be true about the god. The later chapters, however, show her transition from a place of powerlessness to a place of acceptance. Later titles, which include words like “normal” and “home,” indicate the change in her mindset and her power. She is no longer driven by her emotions but by an increased need to find her place in the world. She recognizes that she is most comfortable among mortals and that she loves Hades, two contradictory facets of herself that she accepts wholeheartedly. Repetition highlights Persephone’s changed perspective, providing a subtle way of tracking her dominant emotions and mindsets.
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By Scarlett St. Clair
