What figurative language type is "It was a terrifying responsibility to receive her soul and let it rest in the palm of his tremebling hand." What does this mean?

1 Answer
Feb 15, 2018

Symbolism, imagery

Explanation:

Essentially what the author seems to be saying is that the woman give this man everything, and he felt responsible for it and nervous about it. Not wanting to hurt her.

“It was a terrifying responsibility”- a daunting task which he feels required to take

“To receive her soul” - to be given her identity and every part of her being, to have influence over her heart and mind

“And let it rest” -she gives it willingly, and he doesn’t cast it aside

“In the palm of his trembling hand” - he is holding out a line to receive what she Ian offering, his hands is trembling because of the gravity of the gift and How important it is.

These ideas are (most likely) not literal, but convey a visual image and sense of symbolic representation of what the characters relationship is like at this point.