Figurative Language In Du Bois The Souls Of Black Folk

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In The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois’s use of figurative language helps define his situation. In paragraph two, Du Bois says that he “lived above [the vast veil] in a region of blue sky and great wandering shadows.” In this quote, the metaphor of the blue sky represents Du Bois’s self-worth, freedom, and later, escape. This can be inferred from the fact that he held the other world in contempt and “lived above it” (Par. 2). Du Bois doesn't literally rise above the veil—which itself represents discrimination—but rather sees himself as living in a land that is superior and better than the other world. This is demonstrated when he says that “the sky was bluest when I could beat my mates” (Par. 2). Here the blue sky symbolises self-worth and shows