The writer describes the journey as very uncomfortable. She does this by using juxtaposing language. Rosabel describes the scene as having a “sickening smell of warm humanity”. The oxymoronic choice of “warm humanity” has connotations of a loving and jubilant atmosphere however it is highly contrasted by the “sickening smell”. The use of the juxtaposition highlights how, although she’s in the presence of other people and is not lonely, there is a sense of discomfort which is also highlighted by the fact that it was “oozing” out of everyone. The use of the uncontrollable word “oozing” emphasises how Rosabel cannot escape the situation. The use of ellipsis “…she felt almost stifled” causes the reader to pause which could be done to allude to the discomfort and unnerved feeling that Rosabel is experiencing. The contrasting description of outside the bus, “silver”, “fairy palaces” could be done to exaggerate the severity of the uncomfortable description of the bus journey which in turn has negative, dirty words such as “black, greasy”.

 

The juxtaposing colours of “black” and “silver”, “black” which has connotations of dirt and anger and “silver” which has connotations of a sparkly and joyous atmosphere, is done so the reader can feel “stifled” and the same discomfort that Rosabel feels.

The writer conveys the bus journey as very strange. She describes everyone as being the same and wearing the same “meaningless, staring face”. This unnerves the reader and Rosabel and illuminates the journey as emotionless and uncomfortable. The fact that no one is showing emotion presents the people as inhumane and this highlights the lack of care people in the 1900s had for the poor. This bus journey is described as very strange and mundane with no particular observations that stand out to Rosabel aside from the lack of care emitting from everyone.