The Hour of the Star

The novel uses figurative language to capture the complexity of Rodrigo and Macabéa’s internal experiences. Its linguistic stylings are particularly inspired by Rodrigo’s identity as a writer and intimate relationship with language. Although he believes that Macabéa is a “dumb” and simple girl and her story is predictable and plain, he feels “tempted to use succulent terms” to write her story (7). He remarks that he loves “splendid adjectives, meaty nouns, and verbs so slender that they travel sharp through the air about to go into action” (7). However, he denies himself the luxury of employing such ornate language because his main character is of limited means. He thinks that if he touches her bread with his creative hand, “the bread will turn to gold” and she won’t “be able to bite it, dying of hunger” (7). Despite Rodrigo’s lofty proclamations about how he’ll honestly depict Macabéa’s story, he quickly proves incapable of avoiding word play, sensory detail, metaphor, and vivid description. Rather, he ultimately enriches Macabéa’s simple story through his eloquent language, subversive syntax, and elevated