Once More to the Lake

White persistently describes his surroundings in human terms in order to better describe them. An example occurs in the essay’s first paragraph, when White describes “the restlessness of the tide” (1) to emphasize the lake’s relaxing elements in contrast to the ocean’s volatility. Another example of personification appears when White notes the noise of the outboard motors and the “petulant, irritable” noises they make. These descriptions contrast with the old two-cylinder motors, which “purred and purred” (4), and the one-cylinder motors that “[eat] out of your hand if you got really close to it spiritually” (4). By describing these old motors as if they are obedient domestic pets, they heighten the irritation caused by the outboard motors, which are described as if they were bothersome children.